PITTSBURGH \u2014 The two men accused of pulling off the largest deed fraud scheme in Western Pennsylvania history are out of jail. They were able to walk free ahead of their next court date, without paying a dime. <\/p>\n
11 Investigates told you last week<\/a> when detectives from the Allegheny County District Attorney\u2019s Office arrested William Schneider and William Petruskie on nearly 150 felony charges for the large-scale property thefts. <\/p>\n 11 Investigates is learning the deed fraud scheme is not the only thing under investigation. There have been at least four fires at addresses connected to William Schneider. Sources tell 11 Investigates those cases are now getting a closer look. <\/p>\n PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> 11 Investigates: Dozens of deeds in Allegheny County recorded into the names of criminals<\/a><\/p>\n On May 18, an 80-year-old woman barely escaped a fire<\/a> that spread to her West 14th Avenue home in Homestead. <\/p>\n \u201cI fell out of the door, and fell down the stairs, tried to roll out in the grass,\u201d she told Channel 11. <\/p>\n A couple and their two-year-old son were able to get out, but they lost everything. <\/p>\n \u201cBefore I could even look, I felt the flames coming through the window,\u201d the homeowner told Channel 11. \u201cOur whole lives are in there, but the one little thing as a mom I thought about was the blanket I brought my son home with.\u201d<\/p>\n Four homes were destroyed by that fast-moving fire on West 14th Avenue. <\/p>\n Last August, less than a half mile away,<\/a> flames shot through the roof of a West Street home in Homestead. A charred deck was all that was left behind. <\/p>\n Both of those homes are owned by William Schneider, the man now facing over 130 felony charges for allegedly forging signatures and notary seals and stealing more than 40 properties from Allegheny County homeowners. <\/p>\n Channel 11 interviewed him after his South Side home was set on fire<\/a> in June. Police arrested two women for arson in that case. <\/p>\n PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>>2 accused of lighting toilet paper on fire inside bathroom of South Side home charged with arson<\/a><\/p>\n Then, days later, another South Side property owned by the fraudulent LLC, \u201cMotion Ways,\u201d connected to Schneider, burned down.<\/p>\n We asked the Allegheny County District Attorney\u2019s office if they\u2019re looking into the fires as part of the investigation. A spokesperson tells 11 Investigates, \u201cOur investigation of the surrounding circumstances continues; thus, we cannot speak to any specifics.\u201d <\/p>\n We also asked the City of Pittsburgh Fire Department if they\u2019re investigating the fires on the South Side. They have not yet responded. <\/p>\n If William Schneider or William Petruskie don\u2019t show up for their next court date, they would each have to pay $50,000. <\/p>\n The victims in this case that Channel 11 talked to on Monday were outraged that the two men connected to the fraudulent deeds were released without paying a dime. <\/p>\n Download the FREE WPXI News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch WPXI NOW<\/a><\/p>\n TOP STORIES FROM CHANNEL 11 NEWS <\/p>\n \u00a92026 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n