Harvard Alum Accused of Arson

A recent Harvard Law School graduate has been accused of setting fire to a New York City chapel that houses the remains of unidentified victims of the 9/11 attacks, leading to public outrage from the victims’ families.

Brian A. Schroeder, who graduated from the Law School last spring, turned himself into the police Monday on arson charges after a fire broke out at the chapel the morning of October 31.

Schroeder—whom The New York Daily News branded as “New York’s newest Public Enemy #1”—was arrested on counts of third degree arson, first degree reckless endangerment, second degree criminal mischief, and third degree burglary, according to the New York Police Department.

Schroeder was reportedly drunk at the time of the incident, and Schroeder’s attorney has claimed to media outlets that his client may have been drugged during a night of partying over Halloween weekend.

The fire left victims’ remains unscathed but damaged mementos placed by victims’ families on wooden benches in the chapel. The remains of unidentified victims of the 9/11 attacks are stored in the chapel while they await DNA identification and transfer to their permanent resting place at the 9/11 memorial, which is currently under construction.

According to media reports, Schroeder’s mother claims that he does not remember anything from the incident. Other reports indicate that the act was done as part of a drunken dare.

Schroeder has now been fired from his position at Sidley Austin, a prestigious, multinational law firm with offices in World Trade Center North, where he was due to begin work this coming January. The firm lost one of their employees, a switchboard operator, in the 2001 attacks.Classmates of Schroeder at the Law School contacted by The Crimson either did not return repeated requests for comment or declined to comment.

But according to media reports the act surprised those who know Schroeder, who served as co-president of Lambda, the school’s LGBT student organization, during his time as a student.

“I know him as someone happy to help out first years or simply give a comforting hug in the library,” said Daniel Kelly, a Lambda board member. “I know him as someone who was deeply passionate about creating a welcoming and supportive atmosphere at the law school.”

Families of 9/11 victims expressed outrage towards Schroeder for what they deemed an insult to their deceased family members.

“Why are the good people gone and the losers still with us?” Sally Regenhard, whose son was a firefighter killed in the attacks, was quoted as saying in media reports.

“I don’t know what they teach these kids at Harvard,” retired FDNY Deputy Chief Jim Riches said. Riches’ son Jimmy, a firefighter, died on 9/11.

—Staff writer Elias J. Groll can be reached at egroll@fas.harvard.edu.