WASHINGTON — A devastating house fire that claimed the lives of three people in Southeast D.C. on Sunday morning has been confirmed as arson. Authorities have now arrested a suspect in connection with the deadly blaze.
D.C. Fire and EMS responded to the fire near 23rd Street and Southern Avenue Southeast at around 5:30 a.m. on Sunday. Upon arrival, firefighters found two people dead on the second floor of the townhome: 64-year-old Robert McKinnon and 34-year-old Jessica Cunningham. An 85-year-old woman, later identified as Margaret McKinnon, was rescued from the second floor using a ladder and transported to the hospital in life-threatening condition. Sadly, she passed away from her injuries on Monday.
Initially, D.C. Fire and EMS announced that their Arson Task Force was investigating the fire, and by Monday morning, they confirmed the fire had been intentionally set. The investigation was handed over to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), who arrested 53-year-old Robert Simpson. Simpson now faces three counts of felony murder and arson.
MPD Chief Pamela Smith offered her condolences to the victims' loved ones and confirmed that the fire was the result of a domestic violence case. Simpson has been identified as the sole suspect. According to police, he had been in a romantic relationship with Jessica Cunningham and had previously lived with the victims at the townhome.
Just hours before the fire, officers had responded to the house for a domestic assault, during which Cunningham identified Simpson as her attacker. The MPD also took a report of destruction of property after a window at the residence was broken. Later, a fire was reported in a trash can at the home, followed by the deadly fire that claimed the lives of McKinnon, Cunningham, and Margaret McKinnon. Investigators have since confirmed that the fire was intentionally set by Simpson.
Friends of the victims revealed that the two had been harassed for weeks leading up to the tragedy.
In addition to the human victims, multiple dogs were found in the basement of the home. The dogs were unharmed and were safely taken into the care of Animal Control.
This fire was one of three deadly blazes in the DMV area over the weekend, with five people in total losing their lives, including the victims of the Southeast D.C. fire.