Markley Fire started to cover up murder, police say (CNN) — A 2020 wildfire that killed two people in Northern California and eventually became part of one of the largest fires in the state’s history was set intentionally in an attempt to cover up a woman’s murder, authorities announced Wednesday. Douglas Mai, 82 and Leon “James” Bone, 64, died in the Markley Fire, which started on August 18 in the Stebbins-Cold Canyon area, near Lake Berryessa, according to the Solano County Sheriff’s Office. The two men died in their homes, which were several miles away from the lake. A month later, Vacaville, California, police arrested Victor Serriteno in the murder of 32-year-old Priscilla Castro, whose burned body was found in the same area where the fire started.