Snapchat Videos Led To Arrest Of Teens In Pheasant Run Fire

ST. CHARLES, IL — Authorities obtained several Snapchat videos and photos that led to the arrest of four teens this week in connection with the Pheasant Run blaze in May, including one image showing plumes of smoke coming from the shuttered resort with a caption that read, "caused a fire."

The snap also included a laughing emoji and was shared 13 minutes after firefighters were dispatched to the blaze, the Daily Herald is reporting. DuPage County prosecutors shared the videos and images obtained from the phone of one of the teens arrested in connection with the fire during a court hearing Wednesday

Arson charges were filed against two teenage boys earlier this week, while two other boys face trespassing charges in connection with the Pheasant Run fire, which took four days and work from more than 100 firefighters to put out.

The boys' ages range from 14 to 17 years old. Two of the boys, one from Carol Stream and another from Wheaton, are charged with arson, burglary, criminal damage to property and criminal trespass to a building, authorities said.

Two other boys, one from Carol Stream and another from Winfield, have been charged with two counts of criminal trespass to a building.

The teens are accused of illegally entering the former resort at 4051 E. Main St. in St. Charles at about 4:40 p.m. on May 21. Two of the teens set papers on fire at two separate locations in the building and then left the area without trying to put the fires out, according to fire officials.

The teens facing arson charges are next expected in court on Monday. The other two teens are set to appear for a court hearing on Aug. 10.