GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Families who have experienced a house fire grapple with a range of emotions like grief and stress, depending on the extent of the loss. When I was a child, one of my older brothers fell a sleep in front of the television while cooking something late one night.

The mother told Grand Rapids officials she removed all the smoke alarms before setting the house on fire while her three daughters were asleep.

Roconda Singleton, 46, was arraigned on a felony murder charge in Grand Rapids District Court on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. Singleton is accused of setting her home on fire while her three children were asleep inside. Her 12-year-old daughter died two days later from injuries suffered in the blaze. Bradley Massman | MLive.com

Police in Grand Rapids, Michigan, have accused 46-year-old Rocanda Singleton of killing her young daughter, who died after she became trapped in the burning family home

The mom is accused of timing the blaze for when her three daughters — ages 7, 10 and 12 — would all be asleep, removing the fire alarms, which were later found stuffed in a pillowcase in the backyard, officials told the outlet.

A Grand Rapids mother faces arson charges after investigators say she set fire to her home with her children inside, sending one of her daughters to the hospital, where she later died.

A western Michigan woman is accused of setting a house fire that killed her 12-year-old daughter who was trapped in a bedroom.

Shamiya Stewart, 12, died two days after a fire her mother allegedly admitted to setting off, per police. Shamiya's two younger siblings survived the fire.