A woman faces murder, attempted murder and arson charges seven months after police allege she set a fire that killed a 25-year-old man, the NBC10 Investigators have learned.
Philadelphia police arrested Chardae Sapp, 34, on Sunday, Sept. 13, in connection with the February fire that killed Raymond Bell, according to court documents.
The fire burned inside a two-story rowhome on the 5400 block of Regent Street in Kingsessing on Wednesday, Feb. 4. Firefighters pulled Bell from the burning home, but he was later pronounced dead at a hospital, officials said. Four other people who were inside the home when the fire began escaped safely.
A Philadelphia Fire Department spokesperson later confirmed the fire was intentionally set. After the fire, police said a “person of interest” was in custody, but it was not clear if that person was Sapp nor what led to her arrest this week.
Prosecutors allege Sapp “knowingly, recklessly or negligently” started the fire or caused an explosion that led to Bell’s death, according to court documents. It was not immediately clear how police believe the fire started.
Sapp also faces four counts of attempted murder, court records show. During an initial court appearance, a judge denied bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 28. Sapp’s court-appointed attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
David Charns can be reached at david.charns@nbcuni.com.