Mother of three charged with felony murder in February house fire
NewsCentral Staff
Story Created:
Mar 13, 2013 at 4:40 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Mar 13, 2013 at 9:48 PM EDT
In a surprising announcement late Wednesday afternoon, the Macon Police Department says that 29-year-old Colethia Williams, the woman whose three children died in a house fire on February 24th, has now been charged with their murder.
Police have yet to say what they think happened that early Sunday morning when 10-year-old Nykhia, nine-year-old Jammarrian and seven-year-old Daija died of smoke inhalation inside their home on James Street. Three-year-old J'lon was also injured in the fire but survived.
Police noted that Williams told authorities she left the children alone and unsupervised. She has told neighbors she went to a local convenience store for sinus medicine and was gone only minutes when someone called to tell her her house was on fire.
The tragedy drew hundreds of people to a vigil and the children's funeral at the Central Church of Christ. They mourned the three children and prayed for the safe return of J'lon who had been treated at the Augusta Burn Center.
Macon Police say Williams was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon by U.S. Marshals and will be booked into the Bibb LEC on three counts of felony murder, four counts of cruelty to children in the second degree, and one count of felony false statements and writings.
She is expected to appear in court Thursday.
Glenn Allen with the State Fire Marshal's office says there is nothing new on the fire investigation from his office. He was unaware the mother had been charged.
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