Overview
- Firefighters pulled Evelyn Newman, 75, and Hazel Johnson, 78, from the burning Rosegill Road home, and both later died at a hospital.
- Alicia Newman, 25, was arrested with assistance from Henrico Police and is charged with arson in connection with the fatal blaze that killed her grandmother and great aunt.
- Court filings say two smoke detectors had been removed and their batteries taken out, an accelerant was found outside Evelyn’s door, and a Gatorade bottle was believed to have carried the accelerant.
- The complaint notes a home-security alert roughly two hours before firefighters arrived, a female voice told the panel everything was fine, and video captured a car leaving at 2:37 a.m. with Alicia’s vehicle later seen at 2:58 a.m.
- Newman appeared by video as counsel was appointed, is being held without bond after her arrest off Laburnum Avenue, and has additional dates set including a Dec. 2 hearing.