A mother-of-three was discovered stabbed to death inside an apartment ravaged by a fire that killed one of her children.
Firefighters responded to the fire early Tuesday at the Countryside Apartments in Daytona Beach and found the deceased mom and rushed her three kids to a hospital in critical condition.
The youngest child, an infant, was found in a crib close to the mother and died. The two other kids, aged 4 and 5, survived but the nature of their injuries and conditions were not immediately known.
‘This is a horrific incident two days out from a holiday that centers around family,’ Daytona Beach police Chief Jakari Young said at the scene.
The mother’s identity has not been released, pending notification to her family.
Cops are investigating the fire that started around midnight as a homicide because it had two points of origin in the home, said Daytona Beach Fire Department Lt Antwan Lewis.
State investigators suspect the blaze was set off intentionally, WKMG reported.
‘I’m very proud of all the officers that initially responded, as well as fire and medical personnel,’ said Young. ‘If it wasn’t for their actions, there probably would have been more lives lost.’
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