New court papers reveal more details about the moments before a fire killed three children inside an East 26th Street apartment in Erie.
Danozjna Shalita Marjie Williams is charged with third-degree murder, endangering the welfare of children, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person in connection with the March 29 fire at 535 1/2 East 26th Street, Apartment 2.
A preliminary arraignment for Williams was held shortly before 10 a.m. May 8. Williams was denied bail and is now in the Erie County Prison.
According to court papers, firefighters were called to the apartment around 4:23 p.m. When they arrived, they had trouble getting inside because a mattress was blocking a stairwell and a couch was in front of a door at the top of the stairs.
Firefighters later entered through another door and found three children in a bedroom. Court papers say no adults were inside the apartment.
Two of the children, identified in the paperwork as T.H. and D.H., were pronounced dead at UPMC Hamot. A third child, identified as A-A-M, was flown to UPMC Children’s Hospital and later died on April 3.
Investigators say Williams arrived at the scene around 4:51 p.m. in a black Dodge Charger. She allegedly told police her brother was supposed to be watching the children.
Williams later told a detective she had only left for about five minutes to go to Walmart for blinds, according to court papers. Investigators say that story did not match what they found.
Court papers say surveillance video showed Williams leaving the apartment at 4:01 p.m. without the children. Investigators say she did not return until 4:51 p.m. They also say video from two Walmart stores showed she was not there between 4 and 5 p.m.
Instead, investigators say phone data and traffic cameras showed Williams leaving Erie and heading toward Corry.
The court papers also describe recorded jail calls between Williams and Tyler Huff, who is listed as the biological father of two of the children. Huff was in the Erie County Prison at the time.
In one call, Williams allegedly asked Huff if he would go to Corry for “300.” In another call, she allegedly said she was “heading out to Corry.” A witness later told investigators Williams had arranged to buy about $300 worth of heroin or fentanyl, or a mix of both, with extra money to bring it to Corry.
Investigators say Williams’ landlord called her at 4:35 p.m. after another tenant reported the fire. According to court papers, the landlord told her, “Where are you, your house is on fire.” Investigators say the call disconnected and Williams was still away from the apartment at the time.
The fire started in the second-floor kitchen, according to investigators, but the cause has not been determined.
Police say Williams left the three children home alone for an extended period of time before the fire. The court papers say her actions contributed to their deaths.