A family torn apart after a deadly fire spreads through a home, deliberately set by a neighbor. Tonight, details are emerging on why someone would cause so much pain. This is what's left of the house at 1645 Stewart Avenue, where six members of the Crawford family were killed in an intense fire early this morning.
"THE FIRST FIRE COMPANY ON THE SCENE, THEY ATTEMPTED MAKING ENTRY THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR AND THEIR PATH WAS OBSTRUCTED BY FURNITURE ON THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSE."
The fire started on the front porch and quickly spread up the stairs. Youngstown firemen arrived within three minutes after they got the call.
"GIVING THE BEST CHANCE FOR SURVIVORS. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT WASN'T THE OUTCOME."
Five people survived the blaze, but another six couldn't be saved. 46 year old Carol Crawford and 23 year old Jennifer Crawford, as well as Jennifer's four children, 8 year old Raneija, 5 year old Jeannine, 3 year old Aleisha, and 2 year old Brandon.
"THE KIDS ARE SWEETHEARTS, THEY WERE BABIES, YOU KNOW, THEIR HEARTS WERE OPEN TO EVERYBODY, THEY WANTED TO LEARN, THEY LOVE PEOPLE, THEY WERE GOOD KIDS, THEY JUST LOVED EVERYONE."
"THE KIDS ARE SWEETHEARTS, THEY WERE BABIES, YOU KNOW, THEIR HEARTS WERE OPEN TO EVERYBODY, THEY WANTED TO LEARN, THEY LOVE PEOPLE, THEY WERE GOOD KIDS, THEY JUST LOVED EVERYONE."
Police have arrested 18-year-old Michael Davis of Youngstown with six charges of aggravated murder and 11 counts of aggravated arson, one count for each person inside the home.
"NOW DETECTIVES SAY THEY HAD A HUNCH DAVIS WAS INVOLVED. IN FACT..TAKE A LOOK BEHIND ME AND YOU'LL SEE THE HOUSE WHERE THE BLAZE A SET, AND HERE'S WHERE DAVIS LIVED. THAT'S WHY POLICE WERE ABLE TO RESPOND SO FAST"
"IN THIS PART OF THE CRIME, PUT TOGETHER RATHER QUICKLY."
But just because they put it together quickly, doesn't mean it didn't affect them. Firefighters were visibly shaken up at what they saw at the scene.
"ESPECIALLY AFTER THEY GET TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT OVER THE NEXT DAY OR TWO, WE'LL TALK TO EACH ONE OF THEM AND SEE HOW THEY'RE DOING."
But as the investigation continues into what could cause a neighbor to commit such a senseless crime, the Crawford family mourns the loss of their own. Now police have told me that Davis' name was brought up as a possible suspect in another arson on New Year's Eve. But it's unclear if these acts are related. But as this arson is investigated, officials say there may be more arrests made in the future.
| 
