'Your house is on fire': Woman left 3 children home alone to die with mattress and couch blocking escape routes then told cops she was at Walmart, police say – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Erie, Pennsylvania – A 22-year-old mother faces multiple serious charges after authorities say she left her three young children unsupervised in an apartment where a fire broke out and killed them. The woman allegedly told investigators she had stepped out briefly to shop at Walmart, yet surveillance footage and other evidence contradicted that account. Prosecutors described the March 29 incident as a preventable tragedy that left the children without protection when they needed it most.
Firefighters Face Dangerous Conditions
Crews from the Erie Fire Department arrived at the two-story apartment on East 26th Street shortly after 4:30 p.m. They encountered heavy flames on the second floor and had to force their way past a mattress blocking the stairwell and a couch obstructing a doorway at the top of the stairs. Once inside, responders located three children in a bedroom with no adults present. Two of the children were pronounced dead at a local hospital, while the third was airlifted to a children’s hospital and died several days later. The fire originated in the second-floor kitchen, though investigators have not yet determined its exact cause. Firefighters described the interior conditions as extremely challenging, with limited visibility and restricted access that delayed rescue efforts.
Timeline Contradicts Mother’s Account
Court records show the mother, identified as Danozjna Shalita Marjie Williams, arrived at the scene about 20 minutes after firefighters. Her landlord had already contacted her with news of the blaze. Williams reportedly told police that her brother was watching the children and that she had left the home for only five minutes to purchase blinds at Walmart. Investigators reviewed surveillance video that placed her departure at 4:01 p.m. and her return at 4:51 p.m. No footage or records placed her at either of the two nearby Walmart locations during that window. Authorities instead determined she had driven southeast to Corry, Pennsylvania, to complete a drug transaction involving roughly $300 worth of heroin or fentanyl. They also noted prior instances in which she had left the children unattended.
Charges and Court Status
Williams now faces three counts of criminal homicide, three counts of endangering the welfare of children, and three counts of aggravated assault. She remains held without bail at the Erie County Prison. Erie County District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz emphasized that the children were left without supervision in a situation where their mother should have protected them. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 28. The case continues to draw attention to the risks of leaving young children alone, particularly in homes where safety hazards can quickly become deadly.
Key Details at a Glance
- Children left unsupervised for approximately 50 minutes
- Escape routes blocked by mattress and couch
- Alibi of Walmart trip disproved by video evidence
- Fire response at 535 1/2 East 26th Street
- Three homicide charges filed against the mother
