A mom from Grand Rapids, Michigan, allegedly removed smoke detectors in her home before setting fire to the place while her kids were still inside.
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Per a report by the New York Post, authorities have accused Roconda Singleton, 46, of removing seven fire alarms from the house. She then allegedly set fire to the building while her three children were asleep. Singleton's has daughters aged 7, 10, and 12. The 12-year-old did not survive the blaze.
The incident took place on January 25th in the morning, at around 7:30 am, at a home on Eastern Avenue. According to Fox 17, Firefighters arrived at the scene and noted that the fire "progressed very quickly" from what they usually see. Police Chief Eric Winstrom said in a statement, "This was a mom that meticulously took all seven of her smoke detectors, put them in a bag, and removed them from the house. Before, she poured lighter fluid all over the house and lit it on fire in an attempt to kill her three children."
Firefighters Have Revealed Bodycam Footage Of The Blaze
Bodycam footage from the scene of the fire shows Singleton acting strangely. She is notably unconcerned, and Police Chief Winstrom notes, "From what I saw, there was not the concern that you would expect from a mom whose children were in danger." In the footage, a firefighter runs to Singleton and asks, "Are there any kids still in the house?" She calmly replies, "My daughter was in there, yes."
When asked what room of the house her daughter is in, Singleton just points to the second floor instead of giving a precise location.
Fox reports that a neighbor heard screams for help. "It was like in a live movie or something, you know. So I'm shocked," she said. The outlet also explains that investigators believe Singleton may have tried to block the children in the home after starting the fire.
The New York Post says that Singleton allegedly told cops that she started the fire on Saturday. "I did it. I am not going to sit here and play like I am the victim," she reportedly stated.
Both the Grand Rapids police and fire departments announced on Monday that Roconda Singleton was in custody on Saturday morning for multiple charges concerning the fire.
