2 arrested in fatal arson that killed pregnant woman, her 2 children in Strawberry Mansion
67-year-old Charles Sumpter and 44-year-old Fleitte Newell have been arrested and charged
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Two people have been arrested in connection with a fatal arson that claimed the lives of three family members, including a pregnant woman and her children.
Charles Sumpter, 67, and Fleitte Newell, 44, have been charged with multiple counts of murder and related offenses, according to police.
Police responded to a house fire in the 2500 block of N. Corlies Street around 4:50 a.m. on June 13.
When officials arrived, they said the home was fully engulfed in flames.
Five people were found inside the home as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze.
Two children, 6-year-old Assad Thompson and 4-year-old Alaya Thompson-Newell, were taken to a local hospital, where they later died.
Thirty-two-year-old Ashley Thompson, who is the mother of the two deceased children and who was eight months pregnant, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officials said a 54-year-old woman jumped from the 2nd-story window while holding her 2-year-old great-niece. Both the woman and child were hospitalized in stable condition.
Sources say one of the suspects is related to one of the young victims, and the motive may have been a battle over an inheritance.
On the day of the arson, police interviewed both suspects, but it was Wednesday when they served a warrant in the 2800 block of West Albert Street and made arrests.
"It was a tragedy man, them kids didn't have to die, and that pregnant lady didn't have to die," said Ronald Parker of Strawberry Mansion.
