An arson fire in Philadelphia killed a pregnant woman and her two young children, prompting the arrest of two people.
According to the Philadelphia Police Department, Charles Sumpter, 67, and Fleitte Newell, 44, were arrested and charged with multiple counts of murder and related offences on Wednesday, June 25, following the deaths of Ashley Thompson and her two children on June 13.
According to NBC 10, an arson fire broke out just before 5 a.m. local time in the 2500 block of N. Corlies Street in the Strawberry Mansion neighbourhood, and firefighters discovered the 31-year-old mother dead on the second floor of the rowhouse.
Her two children, Assad Thompson, 6, and Alaya Thompson-Newell, 4, later died in the hospital.
“Upon arrival, officers found the property fully engulfed in flames,” according to a police press release. “While firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, five individuals were discovered inside the residence.”
According to police, a 54-year-old woman and her third child managed to escape the fire.
According to NBC 10, Newell, one of the arrested suspects, is the sister of the 54-year-old survivor, Sherry Jackson.
The victim told the outlet that she had been arguing with Newell about the house for a year. She claimed that the suspect had previously threatened to “burn the house with her in it.” Jackson claimed that no action was taken after she reported the threat.
According to 6 ABC, Sumpter and Newell were interviewed on the day of the arson but not arrested until June 25, when they were served with a warrant.
A family member previously told NBC 10 that Thompson was seven months pregnant when she died. She is described as “a loving mother, daughter, and friend” on a GoFundMe page.
“Her children were her joy, her purpose, and the light of so many lives around them,” according to the donation page.
