FeedsArson cited in fatal blaze
A jealous rage may have fueled an inferno that claimed the life of a 52-year-old woman at a home on the 28000 block of Rosewood Street early Monday morning, police said.
A 63-year-old woman who lives two doors from the site of the blaze is now in custody under suspicion that she used accelerants to start the fire at the bungalow at 28227 Rosewood, with her former boyfriend and his new companion inside.
The boyfriend, whom neighbors called “Mr. Lee” was able to escape the flames although his girlfriend –52-year-old Denise Robinson – was overcome by smoke and died at the scene, said Fire Chief Marc Hubanks.
“The man who lived at the home was on the front lawn, and he told us there was someone inside,” he said. “She (Robinson) was discovered in the upstairs bedroom.”
Though the investigation is ongoing, Hubanks said accelerant was detected on the front porch.
“The fire burned the hottest on the porch,” he said.
Det. Tony Delgreco of the joint police-fire arson unit, said the fire was suspicious, and that the suspect would likely be charged with felony murder and arson for setting the home on fire knowing someone was inside.
“This was all about jealousy,” he said.
Witnesses apparently told police about constant fighting between the suspect and her former boyfriend. A police canine also tracked the scent of accelerants to the suspect’s home. This led investigators to arrest the woman hours after the crime, as stunned neighbors looked on.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the woman had not yet been charged with a crime, but was in custody at the Inkster jail. Her name is being withheld pending charges.
At the home Monday afternoon, area residents who knew Robinson and her companion were shocked about the nature of the crime.
“I can’t believe anything like this would happen in our neighborhood – everyone was family here,” said Kristina Hamilton, 20, who lived in the community for several years.
Hamilton, who said she had dated the victim’s son, said Robinson had told her she felt she was being stalked by the suspect.
“I received a text message that she had been murdered, and I’m shocked. She was such a nice woman – and she said she was going to file a police report (about the stalking).”
Sarah Kuykendall, who made the 911 call to police to report the fire, said she too was bewildered by the events in her neighborhood.
“It’s hard to believe that anything like that would happen here,” she said.
Hamilton said she watched as investigators removed boxes of evidence, which is currently being tested at the Michigan State Police Crime Laboratory in Northville.
The suspect’s son was also surprised at the accusations. Troy Garrison, 44, said he believed his mother was innocent.
“It’s easy for people to assign blame,” he said. “She hasn’t gone out with him for two years, and she’s innocent.”
Robinson lived across the street from where the fire occurred, and was a mother. Residents in the area believe that she was employed as a nurse.
Hamilton said that when the fire began, residents didn’t initially think a crime had been committed, but fire burned, they slowly realized Robinson was in trouble.
“Everyone came out to look at what was happening, except for her,” said Hamilton.
