Autopsy set for Ohio girl who died hours before rape trial
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Autopsies are scheduled to be performed Tuesday on three people who died in an Ohio house fire, including a 10-year-old girl who was connected to a rape trial set to begin later that day.
The fire broke out early Monday at the home in Youngstown, hours before the start of trial for a man accused of raping the girl, said Paul Gains, Mahoning County prosecutor. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
Following the deadly fire, prosecutors asked that 46-year-old Robert Seman Jr.'s trial be delayed and his bond be revoked. A judge complied. Authorities are reportedly investigating evidence that he tried to bribe a potential witness in his case.
Capt. Brad Blackburn, chief of detectives for the police, told The Vindicator that the fire didn't appear to be linked to the trial and there were no signs of anything criminal, but detectives would be investigating.
Mahoning County Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer McLaughlin said Monday that she is suspicious of the timing of the fire.
"On literally the eve of trial, hours before this trial was supposed to begin, this victim dies in a fire," McLaughlin said, adding that she believes Seman should be considered a suspect in the fire, reports CBS affiliate WKBN.
According to the station, the 10-year-old girl was expected to testify against Seman.
The victims in the fire have been identified by WKBN as 63-year-old William Schmidt, 61-year-old Judy Schmidt and their 10-year-old granddaughter.
Prosecutors have said the grandparents were deaf. CBS News is not naming the girl because she was an alleged sexual assault victim.
Fire Chief John O'Neill has said the extent of the fire in the basement indicated it might have started there. Neighbors said they heard what sounded like an explosion around the time the blaze broke out, local media reported. The investigation is ongoing.