Husband Charged After Duquesne Fire Leaves 1 Woman Dead
DUQUESNE (KDKA) – An early Tuesday morning fire left one woman dead in Duquesne and her husband has been charged.
According to officials at the scene, the fire broke out at a home on Friendship Street around 2 a.m.
After the fire, investigators were looking into what caused the fire and the relationship between the woman and her estranged husband.
Intense flames on the first floor quickly spread to the rest of the home.
Firefighters were forced to stay back, even though they knew a woman was most likely inside.
Eventually, Maureen Gecan-Karr, identified by neighbors and friends, was found on the second floor of her home.
"She didn't deserve to die in the fire. She was too good of a lady. I don't know what I'm going to do without her," Doreen Collins, a friend, said.
Allegheny County Police took the victim's husband, James Karr into custody and questioned him Tuesday morning.
Tuesday night he was charged with homicide and other charges.
Kerr apologized and cried as he was being led away in cuffs, saying, "I'm sorry, it was an accident. I'm sorry ... I'm sorry for everybody."
But court papers paint a different picture.
Recently, the victim filed a PFA petition against Karr, in which she said her husband threatened to burn the house down.
The final hearing was scheduled yesterday.
Harold Hayes Reports:
He told investigators that he went to his estranged wife's house, got into an argument, she came at him with an ax, Karr allegedly pushed her away and she hit her head against a wall.
He said after that she was unresponsive and he tried to resuscitate her, then moved her to the living room, bound her hands with wire and poured vodka on her. He then made a trail with the vodka out the front door. Karr then said he lit the vodka on fire and left out the back door.
Karr posted a goodbye message to his wife on Facebook Monday, saying:
"I just want to say goodbye to my wife there's no way I can win as long as Doreen Collins is in the picture maybe I'll see you on the other side I love her and good bye."
Collins says Maureen was scared, but didn't want to leave her home.
"I tried to make her stay down here and she wouldn't because of her dogs. I said, 'Well, if something happens to your house, at least you wouldn't be there," Collins said.
Two firefighters were injured while battling the blaze. One suffered a back injury and went to the hospital for treatment. The other suffered a minor leg injury and remained at the scene.
You May Also Be Interested In These Latest News Stories
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter