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May 9, 2008 9:31 pm US/Eastern
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Woman Arrested In Southie Fire That Killed Sisters
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
A woman has been arrested for allegedly setting a deadly South Boston fire that killed two young sisters early last month. Acia Johnson, 14, and her 3-year-old sister Sophia died when their townhouse was torched.
Friday police confirmed that Nicole Chuminski, 25, had been arrested and charged with setting the deadly blaze.
"In the early morning hours of April 6, Nicole Chuminski deliberately and maliciously a fire that spread rapidly, soon engulfing the entire building," said District Attorney Dan Conley.
Chuminski was in a relationship with the girls' mother. But police said the two got in an argument the night of April 6 and Chuminski later set the house on fire.
"They determined that an accelerant found on Chuminski's clothes after the fire was consistent with an accelerant discovered on the door frame at 154 West Sixth Street," Conley said.
"The evidence gathered made it possible to hold Chuminski responsible for her wanted and reckless actions that resulted in the loss of two innocent children," said Boston police Commissioner Ed Davis. "The sadness of that day affected so many."
Chuminski has been charged with two counts of murder and one count of arson.
Acia and Sophia were trapped on the top floor of their South Boston home on April 6, where they died of burns and smoke inhalation, according to the medical examiner. Prosecutors said Friday that the girls died slowly and painfully. They were found huddled together in a closet.
The girls' mother, Anna Reisopoulos, and brother were hospitalized after the fire with non-life threatening injuries.
Officials say Reisopoulos and Chuminski got into an argument stemming from a wedding, though it's unclear what the fight was about.
Neighbors told WBZ many people suspected Chuminski was responsible for the deadly blaze.
"Everybody sort of figured it was her," said neighbor Sarah Bailey. "But I'm glad that they caught her because how could she do such a thing? I don't care what she had with the mother or what the situation was. You don't start a fire in somebody's house, especially when there are innocent kids in there."
Chuminski is scheduled to be arraigned in court on Monday.
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