3 men charged in Bucks County arson case that led to death of firefighter

Three men have been charged in connection to a house fire that happened back in August that was ruled as an arson, according to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.

The fire was allegedly intentionally set on a van that was parked outside of a house on the 700 block of Cedar Avenue in the Croydon section of Bristol Township sometime before 5 a.m. on Aug. 8, police said.

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Officials explained that once the van was set on fire, it spread to the side of the house very quickly.

An investigation into the arson found that Gavin Ross Montoya, 27, was allegedly hired by Charles William Vandenberg, 50, to set the fire and Thomas J. Parker, 36, is accused of driving Montoya to the scene.

A search warrant of Montoya’s phone found that he communicated with Vanderberg through text message who said “NEED THAT VAN TOURCHED” and “GET ROAD FLARE.”

Montoya texted Vanderberg back saying, “CAN I GET 10GS IN 2 BAGS.”

While reviewing nearby surveillance footage, Montoya was allegedly captured on camera throwing what looked like a flare into the parked van, investigators said.

Parker allegedly gave Montoya a ride because he thought that Montoya was going to steal drugs from the resident who lived at the house, police said.

According to investigators, Parker dropped Montoya off at the corner of Cedar Avenue and State Road and waited for him. When Montoya got back to the car, he told Parker that he set the van on fire.

Montoya and Vanderberg were each charged with arson, criminal mischief and other related charges while Parker is charged with criminal conspiracy to commit robbery and other charges.

Vanderberg was arraigned and is being held at Bucks County Correctional Facility under $350,000 bail. Montoya and Parker are waiting to be arraigned.

Investigators working on figuring out the arson also looked into the death of a long time firefighter.

Captain of Fire Police Ed Margavich of the Third District Volunteer Fire Company died a week after the fire when he suffered a thigh bone fracture after he fell at the fire station, officials said. The three men charged in connection to the arson are not going to be charged for Captain Margavich’s death.