Mansion arsonist still at large

AUSTIN (KXAN) - More than four years after an arsonist attempted to burn down the historic Texas Governor's Mansion, investigators have made no arrests in the high-profile case -- despite releasing surveillance video of the suspect and several sketches of what he might look like.

• Photos: Texas Governor's Mansion restoration

As the governor and first lady unveiled the newly restored Governor's Mansion Wednesday, Mrs. Anita Perry recalled hearing for the first time that an arsonist tried to burn the home down.

"It was very emotional for me, and I know I cried tears," said Perry. "The house was so grand and who knew when you moved out that it was going to burn."

The first family was not living in the mansion at the time of the arson, having moved out to prepare for planned renovations.

In 2010, a newly formed team of investigators from the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers combed through new evidence.

"You have to look over everything that you've done before, if there's something you missed, if there's something else to do," said now-retired assistant director of the Texas Rangers, Tony Leal, at a news conference in February 2011.

The new team of investigators linked the man in the video seen throwing a Molotov cocktail at the front porch of the mansion shortly after 1 a.m. on June 8, 2008, to video of a man in a Longhorn baseball cap walking behind the mansion moments earlier.

Investigators were able to slow down the video enough to create two sketches of what the suspect might look like. They even traced a white Jeep seen taking photographs of surveillance cameras around the mansion to an Austin-based anarchist group that was linked to the bombing at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis. But there has never been enough evidence to make an arrest.

Wednesday, DPS issued this statement to KXAN:

"The Mansion Fire investigation remains an open, active investigation—and it will remain so until it is solved.   Every viable lead has been - and any new leads will be – thoroughly investigated. Difficult investigations often turn on a single piece of information. DPS will continue to search for that critical information and we continue to ask for the public’s help in solving this crime. A $50,000 reward is still available for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case. If you have information on this case, please call 1-800-252-TIPS."

"DPS is committed to ensuring the security of the Texas Governor's Mansion and the safety of all those at the Mansion, including the first family and visitors. Security has been enhanced at the Governor's mansion, both through infrastructure upgrades and increased personnel."