Topline: Erie County prosecutors said the mother now faces homicide and child endangerment charges in connection with the March fire that killed her three children.
Published: May 13, 2026 3:50 pm ET
Must Read
ERIE COUNTY, PA — A Pennsylvania mother whose three young children died in a March apartment fire is now facing homicide and child endangerment charges after investigators alleged she left the children home alone for nearly an hour while facilitating a drug transaction.
According to the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Erie police arrested Danozjna Shalita Marjie Williams in connection with the fatal fire that broke out at her apartment shortly before 4:30 p.m. on March 29.
Prosecutors said Williams is charged with third-degree murder, endangering the welfare of children, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person. A preliminary arraignment was held May 8, where Williams was denied bail, according to the district attorney’s office.
Authorities said the fire claimed the lives of Williams’ three children, who investigators allege had been left unsupervised inside the apartment. According to online obituaries cited by ABC 3340, the victims were a 5-year-old boy, a 3-year-old girl and a 5-month-old girl.
Search warrants uncovered evidence showing Williams left the apartment before the fire started and was gone for approximately 50 minutes “to facilitate a drug transaction,” according to Erie County District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz.
WGAL reported investigators said firefighters encountered obstacles while trying to enter the apartment during the emergency response. Officials also said the cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
“This is a heartbreaking, but completely preventable tragedy,” Hirz said in a statement released by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office. “The evidence shows these young children were left without supervision in a situation where they needed their mother to protect them and keep them safe. That duty was abandoned, with devastating consequences.”
Authorities have not released additional information about how the fire began or what obstacles firefighters encountered while attempting to reach the children.
Williams remains in custody. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Three Unsupervised Children Killed in Fire After Mother Left for Drug Transaction
Erie County prosecutors said the mother now faces homicide and child endangerment charges in connection with the March fire that killed her three children.
By Jacob Charles
Published: May 13, 2026 3:50 pm ET
ERIE COUNTY, PA — A Pennsylvania mother whose three young children died in a March apartment fire is now facing homicide and child endangerment charges after investigators alleged she left the children home alone for nearly an hour while facilitating a drug transaction.
According to the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Erie police arrested Danozjna Shalita Marjie Williams in connection with the fatal fire that broke out at her apartment shortly before 4:30 p.m. on March 29.
Prosecutors said Williams is charged with third-degree murder, endangering the welfare of children, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person. A preliminary arraignment was held May 8, where Williams was denied bail, according to the district attorney’s office.
Authorities said the fire claimed the lives of Williams’ three children, who investigators allege had been left unsupervised inside the apartment. According to online obituaries cited by ABC 3340, the victims were a 5-year-old boy, a 3-year-old girl and a 5-month-old girl.
Search warrants uncovered evidence showing Williams left the apartment before the fire started and was gone for approximately 50 minutes “to facilitate a drug transaction,” according to Erie County District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz.
WGAL reported investigators said firefighters encountered obstacles while trying to enter the apartment during the emergency response. Officials also said the cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
“This is a heartbreaking, but completely preventable tragedy,” Hirz said in a statement released by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office. “The evidence shows these young children were left without supervision in a situation where they needed their mother to protect them and keep them safe. That duty was abandoned, with devastating consequences.”
Authorities have not released additional information about how the fire began or what obstacles firefighters encountered while attempting to reach the children.
Williams remains in custody. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Three Unsupervised Children Killed in Fire After Mother Left for Drug Transaction
Erie County prosecutors said the mother now faces homicide and child endangerment charges in connection with the March fire that killed her three children.
By Jacob Charles
Published: May 13, 2026 3:50 pm ET
ERIE COUNTY, PA — A Pennsylvania mother whose three young children died in a March apartment fire is now facing homicide and child endangerment charges after investigators alleged she left the children home alone for nearly an hour while facilitating a drug transaction.
According to the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Erie police arrested Danozjna Shalita Marjie Williams in connection with the fatal fire that broke out at her apartment shortly before 4:30 p.m. on March 29.
Prosecutors said Williams is charged with third-degree murder, endangering the welfare of children, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person. A preliminary arraignment was held May 8, where Williams was denied bail, according to the district attorney’s office.
Authorities said the fire claimed the lives of Williams’ three children, who investigators allege had been left unsupervised inside the apartment. According to online obituaries cited by ABC 3340, the victims were a 5-year-old boy, a 3-year-old girl and a 5-month-old girl.
Search warrants uncovered evidence showing Williams left the apartment before the fire started and was gone for approximately 50 minutes “to facilitate a drug transaction,” according to Erie County District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz.
WGAL reported investigators said firefighters encountered obstacles while trying to enter the apartment during the emergency response. Officials also said the cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
“This is a heartbreaking, but completely preventable tragedy,” Hirz said in a statement released by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office. “The evidence shows these young children were left without supervision in a situation where they needed their mother to protect them and keep them safe. That duty was abandoned, with devastating consequences.”
Authorities have not released additional information about how the fire began or what obstacles firefighters encountered while attempting to reach the children.
Williams remains in custody. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
