Firefighters in Daytona Beach, Florida, found a mother stabbed to death in her burning apartment, with her three young children inside the home, according to local police.
The three children, ages 1, 4 and 5, were rushed to nearby hospitals where the 1-year-old was pronounced dead, Daytona Beach Police Department (DBPD) Chief Jakari Young said during a news conference on Tuesday. He said the two older children survived the blaze but were listed as critical.
Around midnight Tuesday, the Daytona Beach Fire Department (DBFD) was called to a structure fire at an apartment on Beville Road in Daytona Beach, Fire Lieutenant Antwan Lewis told reporters.
Daytona Beach Fire Department
Police and firefighters responding to the structure fire call from the Countryside Apartments were greeted by thick smoke and flames at the scene, Lewis said. When firefighters made entry to the unit, they found a woman and three children inside, he said. The woman was dead upon arrival, and the 1-year-old, found in a crib, was in cardiac arrest and unable to be saved.
Young said the woman, who had not been publicly identified at the time of publication but was confirmed to be the mother of the children, was suffering from multiple stab wounds.
The police chief said the case is being investigated as a homicide.
Newsweek reached out via email and social media to the police and fire departments Tuesday evening for comments and an update on the case.
While the state fire marshal was called to determine the official cause of the fire, Young and Lewis told reporters that investigators believe it was intentionally set.
Lewis said authorities find the blaze “suspicious” because they discovered there were two points of origin inside the residence, which he said is atypical.
The police chief said he was unable to provide additional details, saying that the investigation was in its early stages. He did not release any information about possible suspects or motive.
“This is a horrific incident,” Young said. “We are literally two days out from a holiday that centers around family and this is what we’re here dealing with this morning.”
Young said the DBPD would release more information after the mother’s next-of-kin had been notified.
Neighbors described the “shocking” scene to local station WESH, with one, Samantha Stewart, saying that she was putting something in her car when she saw smoke and flames coming from a nearby building. She told the station that called 911 and ran toward the blaze to see if she could help.
“I wanted to make sure that I could get anybody I could get out of that apartment building, I could help at least a little bit,” Stewart said. “I’m glad I was able to be there, but it’s really hard. I feel really bad for the baby, and the mom.”
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