Ex-husband held in Linden fire deaths probe

Investigations into the Christmas Day fire that claimed the lives of Zella Lawrence and her two nieces has taken a surprise turn, with detectives detaining Mrs. Lawrence’s husband.

Region 10 Police Commander, Superintendent Guy Nurse, told Big Smith News Watch that the ex-husband was arrested on Wednesday, January 3. But investigators have reportedly found no incriminating evidence against him.

Big Smith News Watch understands that the Linden business couple divorced some time ago.

Investigators from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) GFS have stated that “fire prevention officials were able to determine that the fire was maliciously set by person(s) unknown.”

The Fire Service appealed to persons with information that may lead to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for the deadly arson attack to contact the police.

Zella Kezia Lawrence, 30, a registered nurse at the Linden Hospital Complex; 16-year-old Angelique Lawrence, and eight-year-old Ronika Lawrence perished on Christmas Day after they were trapped in the burning house, located at Lot 2692 Central Amelia’s Ward Amelia’s Ward, Linden.

The two-storey wooden and concrete building was owned by Veronica Headley.

Firefighters from the Linden Fire Station responded around 02:05hrs and managed to contain the fire to the bottom floor.

But by then, all the occupants had died.

Postmortem examinations revealed they all died from smoke inhalation.

(SN PHOTO)