Ohio women found dead in apartment fire investigation

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Summary: Kourtni Yeager, 31, and 42-year-old Katina C. Spells died Aug. 9 in Canton, Ohio. Police charged Darrell Washington with aggravated murder; two others face charges connected to fire and investigation.

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A fire call in Canton, Ohio, led investigators to a much darker discovery Aug. 9: two women were found dead inside an apartment, both with gunshot wounds and severe burns. The victims were Kourtni Yeager, 31, and Katina C. Spells, 42.

Canton firefighters had been responding to a structure fire when they found the women inside. Both were taken to a local hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

Authorities later said the fire was part of an effort to conceal the killings. Darrell Washington, 46, of Canton, was identified as the primary suspect and charged with aggravated murder and aggravated arson. Federal authorities arrested him Aug. 12 in New Philadelphia after a brief foot pursuit.

Two other people were also accused in connection with the case. Eric Lamar, 43, faces charges of aggravated arson, tampering with evidence and obstructing justice. Melissa Terrell, 41, faces the same categories of charges. Police said the three suspects were connected to the fire and the effort to cover up what happened inside the apartment.

By Aug. 17, all three suspects were in custody, according to Canton police. Washington's bond was set at $3 million after he was arraigned on the murder and arson allegations. The charges remain allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Yeager's death has also brought attention to the life she left behind. Her obituary says she was born in Canton in 1995, attended Washington High School and worked as a manager for KFC. She was described as devoted to her children, who survive her.

The case now moves through the court system as prosecutors pursue the allegations against Washington, Lamar and Terrell. For Yeager's family, the legal process will determine responsibility for a death that began with what initially appeared to be a routine fire response.

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Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Sources/related links:

U.S. Marshals Service — arrest of Darrell Washington

Canton police case report via Cleveland 19

Kourtni Yeager obituary

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