Erie, Pennsylvania — A 22-year-old mother from Erie, Pennsylvania is facing serious charges after a fire broke out in her apartment, resulting in the deaths of three of her children.
Details of the Tragedy
The incident occurred on the afternoon of March 29, when Danozjna Shalita Marjie Williams reportedly left her children home alone. According to the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Williams was not at home when the fire started at 535 1/2 East 26th Street.
The fire, which heavily affected the second floor of the building, was allegedly caused while Williams was gone for about 50 minutes. Investigators say she was engaged in a drug transaction during this time, driving to Corry, Pennsylvania, to sell $300 worth of heroin or fentanyl.
Firefighters Arrive at the Scene
At approximately 4:30 p.m., Erie firefighters responded to the scene and found themselves dealing with “extremely challenging conditions,” according to the Erie Firefighters IAFF Local 293. The rescuers struggled to enter the building due to obstructions inside, including a mattress blocking a stairwell and a couch blocking a door at the top of the stairs.
Once inside, they discovered three children in a bedroom. Tragically, two children, identified as T.H. and D.H., were pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. A third child, A-A-M, was flown to a children’s hospital but later passed away on April 3.
Williams’ Actions and Investigation
Williams returned to the apartment 20 minutes after the fire department had arrived, driving a black Dodge Charger. According to reports, she had been contacted by her landlord, who informed her that her house was on fire.
Williams claimed to investigators that her brother was supposed to be watching the children while she was away. She stated that she had only left the house for about five minutes to pick up blinds at Walmart. However, surveillance video contradicted her story.
The footage showed Williams leaving the home at 4:01 p.m. and not returning until 4:51 p.m., with no sign of her at either of the two local Walmart stores during that time.
Authorities allege that Williams had left her children unsupervised before, and this time, the children were left without proper supervision when they needed it most.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
Williams is facing several charges, including three counts of criminal homicide, three counts of endangering the welfare of children, and three counts of aggravated assault. She is being held at the Erie County Prison without bail. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 28.
Erie County District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz called the incident “heartbreaking” and stressed that the tragedy was “completely preventable.” She added, “The evidence shows these young children were left without supervision in a situation where they needed their mother to protect them and keep them safe. This duty was abandoned, with devastating consequences.”
Cause of the Fire
The fire, which started in the second-floor kitchen, remains under investigation. The exact cause has not yet been determined.
