PITTSBURGH — A woman has been charged in connection with a house fire that killed three men early Wednesday in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood, police said.
Pittsburgh police spokeswoman Emily Schaffer said Latoya Lyerly, 42, is charged with three counts of criminal homicide, aggravated arson, arson endangering persons, arson endangering property, and causing or risking a catastrophe.
Firefighters were called to North Lang Avenue in Homewood shortly after 6 a.m. Channel 11’s Jennifer Tomazic reported that fire marshals from both the county and city responded to the two-alarm fire.
Firefighters told Channel 11’s Brandon Hudson that the first call for help didn’t come from the house on fire but from the one next door.
“We can’t afford (any) more tragedies in this neighborhood,” said neighbor Peggy Wilson.
The medical examiner identified two of the three victims as Calvin Turner, 56, of Homewood and Gerald Johnson, 68, of Homewood.
For many in the Homewood neighborhood, the home was known as a place open to anyone at any time, thanks to its owner.
“He takes care of anybody. Any kind of way,” Wilson said.
Pittsburgh Fire Chief Darryl Jones said this case in particular is tough.
“We hurt just like the neighborhood hurts,” Jones said. “Just like the family hurts. We take it personally. We don’t like losing people.”
Jones said there were heavy flames, and the first two bodies were found during the second sweep of the home. The third body was found on the third floor during the third sweep of the house.
According to the criminal complaint, Lyerly started living at the home where the fire occurred about three weeks ago. She told police that she cooked and cleaned for the homeowner in exchange for a rent-free room.
The complaint went on to say that Lyerly became angry Tuesday when the homeowner told her to turn down her radio. She told officer that she threatened to burn down the house.
She confessed, according to the complaint, to using a paper coffee strainer to start the fire, saying voices told her to do it and that demons filled the house.
Lyerly stated that after the fire began to accelerate, she grabbed her coat, locked the front door on her way out and then walked away from the house, the complaint said.