YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio, Jan. 23, 2008
Teen Charged In Ohio Fire That Killed 6
Four Children Among The Dead; Suspect Is 18 Years Old
-
-
In this undated booking mug shot released by Mahoning County Sheriff's Office, Michael Davis is shown. Davis was arrested Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2008, in connection with a pre-dawn fire that killed four children and their mother and grandmother, authorities said. (AP Photo/HO)
-
State fire marshals and members of the arson task force comb the scene of an early morning fire in Youngstown, Ohio, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2008, where six people, including four children, died, according to the fire chief. (AP)
-
-
Interactive FIRE! A look at major fires and their victims, arson facts, and those who fight the flames.
The blaze started near the front of the house, either on the porch or just inside the front door, said Fire Chief John O'Neill. It spread quickly and consumed the home.
Eleven people were inside the house when the fire started, authorities said. Three people were being treated at St. Elizabeth Health Center, hospital spokeswoman Tina Creighton said.
The fire killed 23-year-old Jennifer Crawford, her daughters Raneija, 8; Jeannine, 5; Aleisha, 3; and 2-year-old son Brandon; and her mother, 46-year-old Carol Crawford, said Rick Jamrozik, an investigator with the Mahoning County Coroner's office.
Next-door neighbor Brenda Brown gestured to a hobby horse on its side in her front yard and said it belonged to the children. She was used to seeing them playing on it.
"They were beautiful little kids, and it's really sad," she said.
Michael Davis, who lived in the neighborhood, was charged with six counts of aggravated murder and six counts of aggravated arson, city police said. It wasn't immediately clear whether Davis had an attorney or knew the victims.
Police Detective Sgt. Patrick Kelly said it looked as if some kind of accelerant had been used to start the fire on the front porch.
The age of the house helped spread the fire.
"This was old housing stock," police Lt. Robin Lees said. "It was very old wood. The construction, to some extent, facilitated the spread of the fire."
Brown said that by the time firefighters arrived, the fire was too intense for them to get inside.
"They put on their oxygen, they tried to get in, they come right back out," she said. "So, they just kind of let it burn a minute. They didn't really have very much choice."
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Add a Comment See all 19 Comments
- YOOPERMAN...Thanks fot the info from the story I got he was the local serial arsonist.
- Reply to this comment
- slim1h20 & crzmeat, I heard on a local news channel this morning that he had an argument with someone in the home over a cell phone. He supposedly only meant to start a small fire on the porch. Not that I am excusing what he did in any way. I hope he rots for what he did, but this shows how d@nm impulsive kids are.
- Reply to this comment
- How totally senseless. They should make this kid spend the rest of his life changing the bandages of burn victims.
- Reply to this comment
- kietie1..that was rude I achnowledge your view don''t agree but don''t make fun of your post, most folks pray for guidace and streaght not miricles though they happen.
- Reply to this comment
- Take your God & shove him. If he can''t bring the kids back, shut up.
- Reply to this comment
- It''s time to ban matches and gasoline.
- Reply to this comment
- mlwightmd...I''m very sorry for your tragic loss. Lean on god during this time he will hold you and take care again my sympathies lost my best friend in a fire it''s so very sad God wrap your loving arms around this woman and bring her piece...Amen
- Reply to this comment
- Speaking of ages, this mom was only 15 when she had the first of her kids! My condolences go out to her family regardless.
- Reply to this comment
- I am the great aunt of the oldest child that was killed in the fire(my nephews child). I nolonger live in the area and only got to see my nice once or twice a year for holidays. She was such a sweet child. I decided to write in to this bloog so that others would now that the only living servivors of this fire is a tweenty year old female and her seventeen year old brother. Her mother does not have any living relatives. All that they had was each other and that is probably why they had such big heart and opend thier door to so many others. They wear not wealthy and had very little money, but filled with love. So my pleae is that people will reach out to this family of two in any way possible. Thank you.
- Reply to this comment
- Here we are in my home state again. There is a lot of speculation here. So far the main motive thrown around was that someone in the house may have been a witness to a previous arson, but the police are so far refusing to confirm it. There have been a rash of these burnings here lately. I can see the burned out shell of one of these homes from my kitchen window. Nine people died in that one (7 kids). There have never been any charges filed. We humans seem to be on full self destruct.
- Reply to this comment
- I live in the area of the fire. Different reports I have heard are this was over a cell phone, and that he might have been the suspect in a New Years day fire. I know alot of people want justice. I am really surprised they arrested someone with in hours of the fire, that seems pretty fast. I hope whoever did this burns slowly and painfully
- Reply to this comment
- People just dont have anything else to do but start trouble nowadays...d*mn!
- Reply to this comment
- Those poor people. I hope this person swiftly gets the death penalty and dies quickly. Maybe they should burn HIM and feel the pain those helpless little babies and those who loved them so much felt. B.as.t.ard.
- Reply to this comment
- Only ONE Solution...a Public Beheading with a Rusty Axe on the town common.
- Reply to this comment
- my condolences to the family of the deceased. May God take care of them now. What would posses someone to do this horrible evil act. There is definitely something wrong with this society when people deliberately kill or endanger others. Take God out of your life and see what happens.
- Reply to this comment
- I hope he is eligible for the death penalty.
- Reply to this comment
- slim1h20...I was wndering the same thing seams odd that you would randomly burn a house down full of folks there has to be more CBS is getting weak in there repoting I normaly learn more from the blog than the news it''s more of a report on a report.
- Reply to this comment
- otionwave...
Your are a freak!!!! Your notes don''t bother me because when I see your name I ignore the post but at this point you need help!!
The story does not say much but I feel really bad for the children...they were so small, may they''re souls be at peace. - Reply to this comment
- As ussual, no facts in this story.
Appearently the 18 set the fire? Any motives? - Reply to this comment
How gold pays for 
