2 indicted in fire set while family slept inside
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CLEVELAND (WJW) — Two men accused of torching an Edgewater home while a couple and a 7-month-old baby were asleep inside have been indicted by a Cuyahoga County grand jury.
Tyric Green, 21, of Euclid, and D’Andre Morris, 22, of Cleveland, were each indicted Monday on 27 counts in the April 19 arson fire, including:
Six counts of attempted murder
10 counts of aggravated arson
Four counts of attempted aggravated arson
Two counts of arson
Two counts of cruelty to companion animals
Two counts of forgery
One count of possessing criminal tools
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“Mr. Green lit fire to his grandmother’s landlord’s house at 2 a.m. while three innocent people slept inside, including a 7-month-old baby,” Prosecutor Michael O’Malley is quoted in a news release. “It is a miracle that this family was not killed or seriously injured. My thoughts and prayers remain with them for the loss of their home, their personal possessions, and their family dog Salami. We will hold these two individuals accountable.”
Investigators previously suspected the pair were seeking revenge for a previous dispute.
According to the prosecutor’s office, Green’s grandmother gave Green rent funds, which the landlord never received. After three months of non-payment, the landlord contacted Green’s grandmother. Green then forged a letter to make it appear as if the funds had been deposited with a bank, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors said Green and Morris then tried to set the home near West 106th Street and Clifton Boulevard with an accelerant — while the family was inside — but were unsuccessful. They came back to the house the next night at about 2 a.m. and succeeded in setting the house on fire. They then fled the scene.
A 29-year-old woman, a 26-year-old man and a 7-month-old baby, as well as their cat and dog, were inside at the time. The residents were able to escape, jumping from a second-floor window with their cat. Their dog was later pronounced dead at the home.
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The fire spread to nearby homes, causing more than $750,000 in damage, according to prosecutors. The investigation is ongoing.
Cleveland Municipal Court records show Green and Morris are each being held on a $1 million bond. They’re expected to be arraigned in the county court “at a later date.”
As of Monday afternoon, donors had raised nearly $65,000 for the family via GoFundMe.
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