Two suspects were charged with murder after a house fire killed a pregnant mother and her two small children earlier this month.
Charles Sumpter, 67, and Fleitte Newell, 44, were arrested in connection with the deaths of Ashley Thompson and her children, ages 6 and 4, on June 13.
An arson fire broke out at the home of the 31-year-old mother just before 5 a.m.
“Upon arrival, officers found the property fully engulfed in flames,” Philadelphia Police said.
“While firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, five individuals were discovered inside the residence.”
A 54-year-old woman and a third child escaped the fire. Newell is reportedly the sister of the surviving woman.
The survivor told detectives Newell had been arguing with her over the house for months and had previously threatened to “burn the house with her in it.”
