Man Accused Of Breaking Into State Park Hotel, Setting Fire In Microwave

A Sullivan man has been charged with second-degree burglary and first-degree property damage after authorities say he illegally entered a vacant hotel room at Meramec State Park and started a fire by placing a pair of shorts in the microwave.

Larry Franks, 57, was taken into custody May 14 following a report of a burglary in progress at the hotel. According to court documents, a park concessioner  received an alert from the hotel’s alarm system at approximately 1 p.m. on May 14, indicating that a smoke detector had been triggered in room #102.

When the concessioner arrived at the hotel, he said he knocked on the door and was met by a man later identified as Franks. Franks reportedly admitted to staying at the hotel the previous week but was not a current guest, and could not provide the room’s door code.

Upon entering the room, firefighters with the Sullivan Fire Department discovered a pair of shorts inside the microwave. According to the report, the clothing ignited when the microwave door was opened, causing a small fire. 

Firefighters extinguished the flames before they could spread further. No other guests were staying at the hotel at the time.

Park staff also found several items in the room that had been taken from a locked conference center elsewhere on the property, including coffee pots and a knife.

During questioning by law enforcement, Franks reportedly said he had camped in a park restroom the night before and wandered the area looking for a boat dock before ending up at the hotel. He told investigators that the hotel room door was unlocked, so he went inside to warm up. Franks claimed he had gone swimming, got cold, and attempted to dry his shorts in the microwave, which resulted in the fire.

Franks also admitted to taking items from the conference center but said he believed the building was abandoned. Park officials said the conference center was secured and closed to the public.

Franks was taken into custody without further incident.

He has been charged in Crawford County.