On December 2, 2007, a quiet home in a quiet neighbourhood in Staten Island became immortalized as 'the Mercereau house' when it became a crime scene.A 38-year-old fire marshal widely recognized as a "rising star" in the New York Fire Department, Doug Mercereau, was curled up in the fetal position, dressed in his pajamas – shot to death. As an arson investigator, Doug carried a department handgun on the job, and his pistol was discovered next to the body. While the nearby service pistol initially suggested the death was a suicide, the autopsy revealed three gunshot wounds in the victim's head.