Bio

Robert Dale Segee was born in 1929 and spent his early life in New Hampshire and Maine. He grew up in a difficult environment. His father was often cruel and disciplined him harshly. Segee said his father would punish him by holding his fingers over a flame. This created a lot of fear and anxiety in Segee. His mother reported that he had many nightmares and was afraid to go to bed.

As a child, Segee was frequently bullied by his siblings and schoolmates. This treatment made him even more nervous. At a young age, he began to sneak out of the house at night to wander the streets. His childhood was marked by loneliness and fear. His academic performance suffered as well, and he failed all his sixth-grade subjects, with an IQ measured at 78.

In the years leading up to the fire, Segee was involved in a series of fires in Maine. Between 1940 and 1946, there were numerous major and minor fires reported near his family's home. His sister later revealed that he had set fires inside their home as a boy. Although there were many incidents, he did not have a juvenile criminal record.

In June 1944, Segee joined the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus as an employee. Just after beginning his work with the circus in Portland, Maine, a minor fire occurred, which was extinguished quickly. Another small fire also happened while the circus was in Providence, Rhode Island. Segee was linked to both incidents later in his life. After this period, he continued to travel with the circus until July 6, 1944, when the Hartford Circus Fire took place.

Murder Story

Robert Dale Segee confessed to several crimes, including the Hartford Circus Fire, which occurred on July 6, 1944. On that day, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus was performing in Hartford, Connecticut. The fire started during the show and quickly grew out of control, resulting in the deaths of 168 people and injuring many others. Witnesses described the event as chaotic, with many spectators panicking and struggling to escape.

Segee admitted to starting multiple fires throughout his life, including the Hartford fire. He claimed that he was compelled to set the blaze after having a frustrating encounter and experiencing nightmares featuring a "red man" who urged him to ignite fires. Segee was 14 years old when the circus fire occurred but was not charged for the crime. His confession came years later, during an investigation that eventually led to his conviction for unrelated arson charges.

Aside from the Hartford fire, Segee confessed to killing a young girl named Barbara Driscoll in 1938 and claimed responsibility for other murders and fires across the United States. His confessions were scrutinized due to his history of mental illness and the lack of evidence proving his presence at the circus during the fire.

Despite his claims, investigators could not determine with certainty if he was the actual arsonist responsible for the circus fire. He recanted his confession in later years, and many believe the true cause of the fire and the identity of the real perpetrator remain unknown. Segee was sentenced to prison for unrelated arson charges and was released in 1959, living until his death in 1997.