It was a chilly January night in 1982 in the Springfield neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida. This historic suburb, established in 1869, had fallen into decline over the past few decades but was known for its charming Victorian homes. On this night, events were unfolding at 117 East 2nd Street that would devastate some of its residents.
The two-story rooming house at 117 East 2nd was home to an eclectic mix of tenants. One was 64-year-old George Sonnenberg, a kindly old gentleman who had fallen on hard times. Living in the attic was 35-year-old Ottis Toole, a troubled drifter with a dark past. According to true crime writer Dr. Tim Gilmore, Ottis "liked to watch things burn. Watching things burn made him smile."
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