Two Men Plead Guilty to Arson of Home with Family Inside
CLEVELAND (WJW) — Two men have admitted guilt in connection with the arson of an Edgewater home that occurred while a couple and their 7-month-old baby were asleep inside, resulting in damages exceeding $750,000.
Tyric Green, 21, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to 10 counts of aggravated arson and additional charges, according to a news release from Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley. His co-defendant, D’Andre Morris, 22, entered a guilty plea last week to charges including aggravated arson and attempted aggravated arson.
Prosecutors revealed that Green, who owed three months’ rent for the apartment he shared with his grandmother, also faces two counts of forgery for allegedly submitting a fraudulent letter from PNC Bank to his landlord regarding a deposit.
On April 19, Green and Morris attempted to ignite a fire at the landlord’s home near West 106th Street and Clifton Boulevard using ignitable liquid, but their efforts were unsuccessful. They returned on the night of April 20 around 2 a.m., and this time their attempt was successful.
Inside the home were a 29-year-old man, a 26-year-old woman, a 7-month-old baby, and a dog and cat. The family and their cat escaped through a second-floor window, but the dog did not survive the blaze.
Prosecutor O’Malley remarked, “It is by the grace of God this family escaped this horrific fire. Unfortunately, their family dog Salami did not survive. This plea is the first step in holding these two individuals accountable.”
Sentencing for Green and Morris is scheduled for September 24.
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