Fatal fire ruled a homicide, and victim’s mother is the suspect
AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - A fatal fire allegedly set by the victim’s mother has been ruled a homicide, according to Aiken County Coroner Darryl Ables.
The suspect, Latrina Hollingsworth, was arrested Monday and charged with first-degree arson. Those charges could be upgraded now that the coroner has ruled the fire a homicide.
Aiken County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Eric Abdullah confirmed she’s the mother of victim Markel Howard, 23.
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Hollingsworth is listed as homeless, and jail records show multiple arrests since 2021.
According to arrest warrants, Hollingsworth “maliciously” set fire to a table inside the home which resulted in damage to the entire structure.
“This act also directly caused the death of the victim, Markel Howard, who was unable to get out of the residence,” arrest warrants state.
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Deputies with the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office say around 7:45 p.m. on Sunday, they responded to a home on Kellogg Drive that was on fire.
When first responders arrived, Howard was found inside the home and pronounced dead at 9 p.m., according to Ables.
On scene, officials say they made with one of the residents of the home who said he was in his room when he began to smell smoke.
The resident told deputies he walked out of his room and noticed a chair on fire in the living room.
According to the incident report, the resident then tried to go help the victim but was unable to get to him.
Deputies say as the resident started walking out, he saw Hollingsworth outside, looking at the fire.
The incident report states the resident then began to accuse Hollingsworth as the person who started the fire.
On Monday, officials told us the origin of the fire was suspicious.
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On Monday, the American Red Cross announced they were assisting the family who lived in the home.
The day before, the American Red Cross volunteers helped a family whose home, located on Justee Lane, was damaged by a fire.
Volunteers are helping seven people by providing financial assistance for immediate needs such as food, clothing and shelter, along with other resources.
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Last week, Aiken County crews battled six home fires in Trenton, Belvedere, Aiken, Graniteville and Wagener.
In South Carolina, The Red Cross responds to an average of six home fires every day. In the colder months, there is a 30% increase in home fires.
HOW TO SAFELY HEAT YOUR HOME:
- If you must use a space heater, never leave it unattended. Place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface, such as a ceramic tile floor. Don’t place it on rugs and carpets, or near bedding and drapes.
- Plug space heater power cords directly into outlets — never into an extension cord. Turn the space heater off every time you leave the room or go to sleep.
- Keep children, pets and anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment.
- Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
- Never leave a fire burning in the fireplace unattended. Make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home. Use a glass or metal fire screen to keep embers in the fireplace.
- Have furnaces, chimneys, fireplaces, wood and coal stoves inspected annually by a professional and cleaned if necessary.
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