Arsonist Sentenced Following Fatal 2020 Fire

Previously Pled Guilty to Two Counts of Murder

The Sun Valley man that pled guilty to starting an apartment fire that killed two people and injured 13 more, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

"The devastation caused by Bandy can’t be overstated and highlights the despair and struggles crime victims face at the hands of criminals in our community,” said DA Chris Hicks. “He deserves every second he serves of these prison sentences. More innocent lives could have been lost in this tragic case were it not for the quick actions of the Good Samaritan. His selfless acts are highly commendable and helped bring this defendant to justice.” 

Brian Bandy (dob 11/12/88) had previously pled to two counts of First Degree Murder with a Deadly Weapon Enhancement. On July 20, 2020, at approximately 5:30 a.m., firefighters with the Reno Fire Department, REMSA, and police officers with the Reno Police Department responded to a fire at an apartment building on Broadway Boulevard. When first responders arrived, they found the apartment building deeply engulfed in fire, with thick black smoke streaming from the apartment windows and residents lying in the parking lot and surrounding areas with serious injuries due to jumping out of second story windows to escape the fire. Two women, Katherine White and Diana Engstrom were overcome with smoke inhalation and died inside their apartments.   

Prior to police arrival, a good citizen reported seeing the defendant running away from the fire with a gas can in his hand and jumping into a car. That citizen called 9-1-1 and followed Bandy until police were able to initiate a traffic stop and detain the defendant.  An investigation revealed Bandy owed money to someone that lived in the apartment complex, and text messages between Bandy and that person revealed a heated conversation in the weeks leading up to the fire.

Investigators from the Reno Police Department and the Reno Fire Department worked closely to gather evidence of the arson and determined that the defendant poured gasoline on a wooden step outside of one of the apartments and then lit it on fire, leading to the building quickly igniting and causing an intense blaze with heavy black smoke which blocked all means of ingress or egress to all eight apartments.      

During sentencing, members of the victims’ families spoke out about the devastating impact of losing their loved ones, injuries received as a result of attempting to escape the early morning fire, as well as the deaths of numerous family pets who perished in the fire.  Additionally, victims pointed out that all eight families who resided at the apartment complex lost their life’s possessions as the fire completely destroyed the apartment building.   

The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Kelly Kossow. Judge Kathleen Sigurdson presided and imposed the sentence.