Daughter held in deadly fire
Posted on 03/02/2003 5:34:44 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
Daughter held in deadly fire
Dad, girlfriend killed in blaze after fight at Oak Cliff complex
03/02/2003
Two people were killed in a fire early Saturday after a 29-year-old woman doused her father with a flammable liquid and then chased him into their apartment "with what appeared to be a lit cigarette lighter," said homicide Sgt. Ross Salverino.
Neighbors in the southeast Oak Cliff complex told police there was a flash, then they saw 52-year-old Carl W. Burton leap in flames from a second-story window.
As the fire consumed the apartment, his girlfriend, Linda Carol Fisher, 38, apparently tried to sink down in a bathtub of water but was overcome by smoke, Sgt. Salverino said.
Both died at Baylor University Medical Center shortly after the fire, which started just after 1:45 a.m.
JON FREILICH / Special to DMN Investigators dig through remains of an apartment in the 2800 block of East Ledbetter Drive. Carl W. Burton and Linda Carol Fisher were killed in the blaze Saturday morning. |
Mr. Burton's daughter, Twalla Patton, was being held in the Lew Sterrett Justice Center late Saturday on two counts of murder. Bail had not been set.
Ms. Patton and her 3 ½-year-old daughter were not hurt in the blaze. Relatives were taking care of the child late Saturday.
Police said they believe an argument began when Ms. Patton left her daughter in her father's care and did not return from work promptly.
"They got into it," said Herbert Williams, who said he was Mr. Burton's running buddy. "I guess he just got tired of her leaving the baby with him."
Nett Jones said that Ms. Fisher was her sister and had four children, including two daughters who are expecting children.
"She won't ever see her first grandbaby," Ms. Jones said.
Family members said Mr. Burton, a disabled veteran, and Ms. Fisher, a security guard, had been dating for several months.
"He made my mom happy," said Ms. Fisher's 16-year-old daughter, Shantell Fisher.
Shantell said she and her three siblings - ages 18, 13 and 8 - liked Mr. Burton and enjoyed his visits to their Dallas home.
Sgt. Salverino said Ms. Patton and her daughter were living with Mr. Burton but were moving out.
The arguing at the Oasis Apartments, in the 2800 block of East Ledbetter Drive, started about 1:45 a.m., Sgt. Salverino said.
Someone in the complex called police to report a disturbance. Police arrived to find the apartment in flames. Ms. Patton was standing outside with neighbors who had fled from their beds in the dark.
Firefighters arrived shortly before 2 a.m. and took 40 minutes control the fire.
Two second-floor apartments sustained heavy fire damage, and three other units were damaged by smoke and water, said fire Lt. Doug Dickerson. In all, damage was pegged at $65,000.
The fire forced firefighters to shut off power to the building, temporarily displacing residents from 18 units.
John Gillespie, chief operating officer of WAK Management, which manages the complex, said the residents had been moved to other apartments within the complex.
Caldonia Pratt said her smoke alarm saved her life.
"I was asleep," Ms. Pratt said. "The only think I remember was getting up, grabbing my purse and getting out."
E-mail jjordan@dallasnews.com and
his girlfriend, Linda Carol Fisher, 38, apparently tried to sink down in a bathtub of water
One murder, one Darwin.
Twalla?
Criminal element with a strange name ping.
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