A Michigan mother who allegedly started a house fire on Saturday was charged with murder after her daughter succumbed to her injuries on Monday.
WOOD-TV reported that Roconda Singleton, 46, was formally charged with murder on Wednesday. Singelton’s daughter, Shamiya Stewart, 12, died days after Singelton allegedly started a fire at their Grand Rapids home.
According to MLive, Singleton removed all seven smoke detectors and locked her three children in bedrooms before dousing the home with lighter fluid and lighting it ablaze. Singleton’s two other children, ages 10 and 7, escaped — while police bodycam footage showed firefighters pulling Stewart from a second-story window.
“(Those were) screams that will live on in our heads for the rest of our lives,” Fire Chief Brad Brown commented.
Singleton allegedly told investigators that she intended to die with her three daughters so “they could be free.” Singelton was admitted for mental health treatment in August, and she has a prior history of threatening and paranoid behavior, according to WOOD.
Grand Rapids police Chief Eric Winstrom said the children’s father is cooperating with the ongoing investigation. He did not live in the home where Saturday’s deadly fire took place, he added.
In addition to murder, Singleton is charged with first-degree arson and three counts of second-degree child abuse. She was arraigned on the two lesser charges on Tuesday. It is unclear when she will be arraigned on the murder charge.
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[Feature Photo: Kent County jail/GoFundMe]