SJFD: Four Alarms - One dead - Ongoing investigation

Investigation continues into fire, death of embattled San Jose businessman

Fire investigators said today it could take "weeks" to determine what caused a four-alarm fire last week at a northeast San Jose business in which the owner was found dead inside a car.
"We have no cause, and especially since this is high-profile, we're going to take our time," said Fire Capt. Craig Schwinge. "Lots of labor goes into this. It was a big building. The cause of fire, the cause of death, it's all part of the ongoing investigation."
Schwinge also confirmed the body discovered inside a car, parked inside 850 Faulstich Court about 5 a.m. on Friday, was George Wayne Halldin, 58, of Los Gatos. The Mercury News had learned that information on Friday, but the identification was not made official until today.
Halldin owned the fire-gutted building as well as the small plastics company, Enclosures Engineering, in addition to a few other properties in San Jose and Fremont.
Halldin was facing federal child pornography charges, which carried a minimum of five years in prison.
Mike Dominguez of San Jose had done business with Halldin over the years. Dominguez was shocked to learn the father of two, who was an "impeccable dresser." Halldin introduced himself as "Dr. Halldin," because he told others he held a PhD in chemical engineering. Halldin made plastic products for Dominguez's company, Bridge Wave Communications, which supplies wireless antennas.
Dominguez said Halldin drove a BMW, though fire investigators refuse to say what kind of car
Halldin's body was found in. Halldin was indicted in February. And he was supposed to have returned to court on Friday - six hours after police suspect him of killing himself - for a bail revocation hearing in San Jose federal court.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eumi Choi told the Mercury News that a pre-trial services officer had planned to argue that Halldin had violated terms of his release. She did not elaborate.
Halldin's wife, who asked to remain anonymous and who left him after she found out about the charges, has declined to comment through a friend.

Source: Mercury news article