Chapelle News

Richmond House Fire Death Toll Rises to Four After Mother Dies From Injuries as Police Arrest Uncle and File Murder and Arson Charges

RICHMOND, CA — The woman pulled from a house fire in Richmond on Tuesday night has died from her injuries, police said Saturday evening, bringing the death toll to four. Her two children and their grandfather were killed in the blaze before her death was announced.

Police said the woman had been taken from the home after the fire. The children’s uncle has been arrested and accused of setting the house on fire, and investigators have said he now faces murder and arson charges.

Arrest And Charges

Richmond police said the children’s uncle was arrested in connection with the fire. He is also the son of the grandfather who died in the blaze, according to the family relationship described in the story.

Police identified the charges as murder and arson. The case remains in the hands of investigators, and officials have not publicly laid out a motive or said what started the fire.

Family Losses In Fire

Five-year-old Andrew and his grandfather, Jose Rivera, died Tuesday. A family member said Rivera died at the scene, while Andrew died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Andrew’s 2-year-old sister, Joline, died Wednesday night at the hospital from critical injuries.

Family members said they are heartbroken as they cope with the loss of four relatives in the same fire. The deaths have left the family facing multiple funerals after what began as a nighttime emergency call in Richmond.

What Comes Next

A GoFundMe page has raised more than $25,000 to help cover the cost of the four funerals. That fund is being used as the family deals with the aftermath of the fire and the deaths that followed over several days.

Police have not said whether additional evidence has been collected or when more details may be released. Readers should check with the Richmond Police Department for updates on the criminal case and with investigators handling the fire for any new information about how it began.

More on the fires, searches and cases people near you are following, on Chapelle News.