Pennsylvania – In a shocking incident in Pennsylvania, two individuals, identified as 67-year-old C. Sumpter and 44-year-old F. Newell, are facing serious charges after a deadly fire that claimed the lives of a pregnant woman and her two young children. Authorities say the fire was deliberately set as part of a growing conflict over a family inheritance.
Sumpter and Newell were both arrested and charged with multiple counts of murder and related offenses in connection to the June 13 house fire that took the lives of 31-year-old A. Thompson, her 6-year-old son, and 4-year-old daughter. At the time of her death, Thompson was seven months pregnant. According to the police department, both suspects were taken into custody on June 25, nearly two weeks after the blaze. Investigators believe the fire was the result of an ongoing dispute involving family property and inheritance. The case has devastated the community and shattered the lives of surviving family members.
Emergency crews responded around 4:50 a.m. to a call about a fire in a home. When firefighters arrived, they found the home fully engulfed in flames. Inside, five individuals were discovered. Among them was Thompson, who was found unresponsive on the second floor and pronounced dead at the scene. Her children were rescued but later died from their injuries at the hospital.
Another victim, 54-year-old S. Jackson, managed to escape the blaze by leaping from a second-story window while holding her 2-year-old great-niece. Both survived and were hospitalized in stable condition. Investigators quickly suspected arson due to the fire’s intensity and patterns. Both Sumpter and Newell were interviewed by law enforcement on the day of the incident but were not arrested until June 25, when authorities obtained enough evidence to issue warrants for their arrests. According to reports, Jackson—who survived the fire—has publicly identified Newell as her sister and said the two had been fighting over the ownership of the home for at least a year. Jackson alleged that Newell had made previous threats, saying she would “burn the house with her in it.” Jackson also claimed she had reported the threat, but no action had been taken.
The tragic deaths have been linked to what authorities described as a “battle over an inheritance.” Reports say the dispute created deep divisions among relatives and escalated to a fatal breaking point. Newell and Sumpter’s motives, according to investigators, centered around who had rights to the property that had long been in the family. Sumpter and Newell now face multiple counts, including arson, homicide, and other related charges. They are being held without bail, and court proceedings are expected to continue in the coming weeks.
The community is still reeling from the immense loss, especially in light of the fact that Thompson’s unborn child also perished. Authorities continue to stress the horrifying consequences of domestic and inheritance-related disputes that escalate to violence. The investigation remains ongoing, but the charges signal a clear message from law enforcement about the severity and deliberate nature of the crime.
