This from Eric Haak:
Here are some images from a double fatal still & box back on February 28th at 8642 S. Hermitage. The fire was well advanced before the first companies landed on the scene but an aggressive interior attack and search efforts were initiated despite those conditions. Sadly, two victims were located during the primary search. Both were transported and pronounced at local hospitals.
Eric Haak photo
Excerpts from wttw.com:
63-year-old Reginald Brown was held without bail during a court hearing Thursday, one day after he was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of arson for allegedly starting the fire that killed Ieashia Ford, 34, and her daughter Porche Ford, 10, in their home in the 8600 block of South Hermitage Avenue.
“There are multiple witnesses to the defendant’s multiple threats to burn the house down, all because he thought (Ieashia Ford) took his wallet and his cellphone,” Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy said during the hearing. “Because of that, two people were killed, including a 10-year-old girl who does not get to grow up.”
According to prosecutors, Brown and Ieashia Ford, who were in a relationship, were hanging out at Brown’s home on Feb. 27 when he grabbed Ford and accused her of taking his phone and wallet. She and another man left that scene, but Brown allegedly followed them to Ford’s home where he repeatedly threatened to burn the house down in front of a group of onlookers.
Brown called Ieashia Ford a short time later and again threatened to burn her house down, Murphy said during the hearing Thursday. That call was overheard not only by people at Ford’s home, but also Brown’s roommate, who told investigators that Brown had told him he’d filled a bleach bottle with gasoline, and shortly before he went to sleep that night, he overheard Brown muttering to himself “they should be by now.”
Early the next morning, a man prosecutors believe to be Brown was seen on surveillance footage walking near Ford’s home and carrying a bag. That person then took something out of the bag, walked toward Ford’s home, and soon after, the orange glow of the fire could be seen coming from the house. The fire was started around 4 a.m. and engulfed the home within minutes. One resident happened to be awake at the time and saw smoke coming from the porch area. He woke two other residents and got them outside before attempting to put out the flames. He re-entered the home and tried to locate Ford and her daughter, but was unable to do so. Both Ieashia Ford and Porche Ford died of smoke inhalation.
The resident who attempted to save the Fords suffered third-degree burns and is expected to recover.
One of the surviving victims and Brown’s roommate both positively identified the man in the surveillance footage as Brown, and investigators recovered a bleach bottle filled with gasoline in a nearby dumpster.
Brown is due back in court for a hearing March 31.
Excerpts from Chicago.cbslocal.com:
A fire that killed a mother and her young daughter on Sunday has been ruled an arson, and the deaths have been ruled homicides.
Ieashia Ford, 34, and her daughter Porche Stinson were among six people pulled from a burning home in the 8600 block of South Hermitage Avenue early Sunday morning. Family said Porche was 10, but the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office said she was 15.
Tuesday afternoon, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office said an autopsy determined Ieashia and Porche died from inhalation injuries due to inhalation of products of combustion due to house fire due to arson. Both deaths were ruled homicides.
Police would not confirm published reports that detectives learned a man entered the house through the back yard, carrying a white plastic bottle of gasoline, which he spread on a back porch and lit on fire. The man then left the yard the same way he came in, and at least some of his actions reportedly might have been recorded by surveillance cameras.
The man remained on the run Tuesday night, as CPD searched for the suspected arsonist and killer.
Ieashia leaves behind one other daughter, two sons, and a grandchild.
Excerpts from abc7chicago.com:
A 10-year-old girl and her mother are dead after an early morning house fire in the 8600-block of South Hermitage in Gresham Sunday. Relatives identified the victims as Ieashia Ford and her 10-year-old daughter Porsche. The pair were sleeping when someone set the house on fire, according to the family.
Four others were also hospitalized in the aftermath, including the mother’s boyfriend and two cousins. All of them are expected to recover from their injuries as both the fire and police departments continue to investigate the cause of a fire that family members believe was anything but accidental. Chicago firefighters worked to save the six people inside, but only four made it out.
Mixed in with the shock, however, is concern that the fire may have been intentionally set, taking place hours after an argument between the mother and an acquaintance relatives said had been harassing her. “He was sending her text messages and threatening her,” said family member Felicia White. “That he was going to set her house on fire.”
While an arson unit was on the scene Sunday morning in the hours following the fire, investigators at this point, are refusing to elaborate and still call the incident a death and fire investigation.
From CFD Media on Twitter:
8624 s Hermitage. Working fire with 6 transports EMS plan 1. Two of the victims extremely critical to Little Company of Mary. All adults. No smoke detectors heard
CFD Media photo
Update: Sadly we update the EMS report from 8624 Hermitage. The critical transports to Little Company of Mary are now deceased. We do not have ages yet, one may be younger than first thought. (Langford)
Update: one of the victims from 8624 Hermitage is identified as a girl about 12 years old . The other victim is an adult.
Update:Hermitage fire. The 4 adults taken to Christ Medical center are expected to recover. The two patients taken to Little Company of Mary have died. Both are females one about 12 the other in her 30’s. No cause on the fire yet. OFI is on the scene.
CFD Media photo
Fire safety team will work the area of 8624 Hermitage with detectors and information at 10 am today.
Crews passing out smoke detectors & safety information near the fatal fire on 86th and Hermitage. Please check the batteries on your smoke detectors because the extra time they provide in a fire is invaluable. (4-1-10)
CFD Media photo
Special Agent Mitch Kushner, veteran Zoe, and new recruit GG from the State Fire Marshal’s Office are assisting the investigation of the fatal on 86th & Hermitage to determine cause and origin. (4-1-10)
For the finest department portraits and composites contact Tim Olk or Larry Shapiro.
