Identities of Teenagers Involved in Playground Blaze Still a Mystery: Attorney

The number of teens involved in setting the and their names are still not known — even to their lawyer.

Sam Gregory said Friday he was approached by one parent acting as a representative of the parents of the teens who allegedly set the fire, and did not know how many were involved.

Earlier this week, Gregory set up the bank account for the families to deposit money into that will pay for the replacement of the burned equipment. The lawyer said he doesn't know where that money has come from.

"What the parents wanted to do was first do the right thing and replace it," he said. "They wanted to put the kids back on the playground."

Because the investigation is ongoing, Gregory said he could not reveal the identity of the parent who first contacted him.

"Right now we have to hold back and let the investigation unfold," he said, adding that while he thinks an apology from the teens would be in order, it isn't going to happen just yet.

"You can't apologize for something when an investigation is under way and you're not identified," he said.

According to Gregory, the Fire Marshal investigating the case had indicated if any of the teens were charged it would be with arson in the fifth degree, a misdemeanor.

The Fire Department said the case was still under investigation.

The bank account for the parents to funnel money into was opened on Wednesday and by Thursday afternoon $50,000 was deposited, Gregory said. Andrea Wenner of Out2Play is figuring out how to direct the funds, he added.

Parents of P.S. 29 children are calling for an apology from the teens, including Ariane Ben Eli in a .

"If the teens remain anonymous, I think they'll learn the wrong lesson and the neighborhood will continue to feel unsettled and angry," she wrote.

On Thursday, PTA Vice-President Lisa Trollbäck said the replacing of the playground was good news, but added that she hoped there would be further steps.

"They should be required by their parents or the authorities to make good in other ways," she said. "This is not just about money."