A man is facing first-degree murder charges in connection with a trailer park fire near Mission, B.C. that left one woman dead and sent two children to hospital early Friday.
*Warning: This story contains details that may be disturbing to some readers.*
Police have not confirmed the identity of the victim, but neighbours said a mother and two children lived in the trailer on Hatzic Island.
The woman’s body was discovered after the fire was extinguished.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team arrested Walter Ramsey, 42, in connection with the blaze.
Ramsey is facing one count of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of arson.
“I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the family of this Ms. Anthonysz and hope that the speed with which the alleged suspect was apprehended gives them some measure of comfort in the days ahead,” IHIT Supt. Dwayne McDonald said in a statement Saturday.
Residents recall horrifying blaze
Lesley Luckerhoff, a resident of the trailer park, said she woke up Friday to the sounds of children screaming.
"I just heard them screaming and screaming and screaming," she told CTV Vancouver. "I thought, 'Oh God.'"
Witnesses said two children escaped the blaze and ran to safety with their hands bound by plastic ties. Both children were taken to hospital for treatment.
Police are still looking for a suspect, but have not released his name. They claim the suspect is not a risk to public safety.
"We have a strong belief that this was a targeted event, that the person who was found deceased was the person that the suspect had targeted," Sgt. Stephanie Ashton of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said.
Neighbour Kevin Steele said he knew the woman who was killed.
"Her kids and my step-kids played together all the time," he said. "They're good kids; she was just a good person.
"At the end of the day, there are two kids who don’t have a mom anymore. So their lives are changed forever."
