KALAMAZOO, Mich.--A suspected arson killed one child and injured two others in the Oakwood neighborhood at 2 a.m. this morning, said police, who have arrested two suspects.
Tiffany Blanchard, 3, was pronounced dead of smoke inhalation at 3:57 a.m., said hospital officials. Tiffany's brothers Terry and Tory were treated and released for minor injuries, officials said.
The three children were the only ones still in the building when firefighters arrived on the scene at 2:15 a.m., following at 2:10 phone call, according to Fire Department Deputy Chief Patricia Clarksen.
Clarksen said that Fire Marshall Sam Johnson is investigating the cause of the fire; currently, he suspects arson. She reported that the fire department's black lab detected the presence of an accelerant on the scene. The building was completely destroyed in the fire; estimated damages are $250,000, she said.
Lt. Regina Santarpio of the Kalamazoo Police Department said that two suspects, Vincent DeNofrio, 33, of Mattawan, and a 16-year-old, also of Mattawan, are scheduled for arraignment this morning. According to police, neighbors said they saw one man with a container and one juvenile running from the scene at about midnight.
Police said that the fire appeared to be an arson started by the estranged boyfriend of tenant Marie Blanchard, 32. According to witnesses, DeNofrio had spent time intermittently at her apartment, Santarpio said. "What I can say without hesitation," she said, "is that there is a nexus between Marie Blanchard, Vincent DeNofrio, and the fire."
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2 comments:
Well-done lede; it captures both the arson and the death of the child, which I found was hard to cram into a single sentence.
I like how you mentioned the children first and not just the dead one. I felt that was also the focus of the story when writing it myself.
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