Washington, D.C. — A tragic incident occurred early Sunday when a town house fire, allegedly set by a D.C. man involved in a previous domestic relationship, resulted in the deaths of three people. Authorities have arrested 56-year-old Robert Simpson, who now faces three counts of murder and arson charges.
The fire erupted around 5:30 a.m. in a two-story building located in the 3400 block of 23rd Street Southeast, according to officials from D.C. Fire and EMS. Simpson had dated one of the victims, 34-year-old Jessica Cunningham, who perished in the blaze.
“This appears to be a domestic violence situation that escalated tragically, claiming multiple lives over what seems to have been a personal conflict,” said D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith during a press briefing.
The initial flames were reported on Saturday, the night prior to the fatal event, following a series of disturbances involving Simpson at the same location. Ronald McKinnon, 64, another victim of the fire, had contacted police to report property damage and a non-fatal fire set by Simpson. McKinnon informed officers that he had seen Simpson setting small fires at the rear of their shared home.
Tragically, early Sunday morning, further calls to emergency services reported the house ablaze once more. During this call, Jessica Cunningham reportedly exclaimed, “He came back… the house is on fire,” before the line went silent.
Firefighting teams arrived swiftly at the scene, battling the flames and rescuing an 85-year-old woman trapped inside. Despite their efforts, she later succumbed to her injuries at a local hospital, confirmed D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly.
Investigators found evidence suggesting that the fire was intentionally ignited in a manner that blocked escape routes. “The setup seemed designed to trap the residents inside, complicating rescue operations,” explained Capt. Jeffrey Wade, who oversees the homicide branch of the police department.
Following the incident, police were able to swiftly apprehend Simpson based on surveillance and the series of events leading up to the fatal blaze. According to court documents, Simpson, who had previous encounters with law enforcement at the residence, was located and arrested within an hour after the fire was reported.
Amid concerns about potential previous preventions, Wade addressed questions about police response times and the absence of a permanent police presence at the town house despite multiple calls throughout the weekend. “Our units were nearby, attending to various calls. It’s not feasible to station officers at one location indefinitely,” Wade stated.
As part of ongoing community safety efforts, firefighters revisited the scene on Monday to engage with residents on fire safety measures and to inspect smoke detectors in the neighborhood.
“This is the first triple fatality due to fire that we’ve seen since about 2010,” noted Donnelly. “It’s an unusual and horrific event, and it underscores the ongoing need to assure that safety measures in homes are robust and effective.”
The horrific events have shocked the community, reinforcing the importance of vigilance and response strategies in domestic violence and fire safety scenarios.