A woman, who Gastonia officials say set a fire to a home that killed her mother and stepfather, has still not been located by police officials. The fire was initially ruled an accident; however, this idea has changed due to the suspicious activity of the 37-year-old suspect.
As the fire burst into a full-blown conflagration, the suspect ran out of the house, and banged on the door of the couple’s neighbors stating that her mother and stepfather were in the engulfed house. The neighbor attempted to help, but his rescue efforts were futile, as were the efforts of the Gastonia fire department. It is reported that it took 20 firefighters to get the flames under control.
The investigators have not been able to locate the daughter, who is sus
pected of causing the fire. When the woman is located, she will be charged with first-degree homicide by the Gastonia Police Department.
If you or someone close to you has committed a felony in North Carolina, and the felony is inherently dangerous (such as rape, robbery, arson, burglary, and kidnapping), and a person is killed during the commission of such felony, that felon can still be charged with first-degree murder.
In North Carolina, the felony murder rule has been implemented; so, in this case for example, the woman set a house on fire. Even if she didn’t know people were in the house, she could still be charged with first-degree homicide. The fact that she was committing an inherently dangerous felony (Arson), and people died as a result, she will likely be implicated under the felony murder rule.
So, if you have been charged with homicide, or any other criminal charge, call the law offices o Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP for a consultation of your rights. You can reach our Charlotte, North Carolina office at 704-499-9000, and we will be pleased to assist you.