A New York woman was indicted last week for setting a fire in Queens that killed her ex-boyfriend and another person earlier last month.
The Queens District Attorney, Melinda Katz, announced that Edward Jacobs, 35, and Anastasia Ettienne, 33, lost their lives on November 2 in a severe fire due to smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. The alleged perpetrator, 43-year-old Aliya Fakhri, now faces charges following the tragic incident.
The indictment brought forward by a Queens grand jury includes four counts of first-degree murder, four counts of second-degree murder, one count of first-degree arson, and one count of second-degree arson against Fakhri, according to Katz.
It was detailed by Katz that Fakhri confronted Jacobs at the entrance of a two-story detached garage around 6:20 a.m. on the day of the fire, menacingly declaring, “You’re all going to die today.” The prosecution continues as the case unfolds.
A witness came downstairs and saw that the building was on fire. Etienne came downstairs briefly but went back up to wake up Jacobs. Neither were able to escape and the flames engulfed the building.
Jacobs’ mother, Janet, told The New York Post that her son and Fakhri broke up about a year ago but she was still pursuing him. She also said that Ettienne and Jacobs were platonic friends. Janet declined to provide her surname.
Jacobs was a plumber working to convert the detached garage into an apartment, the mother said. He was a loving dad of three boys, 11-year-old twins and a 9-year-old.
Fakhri was ordered held without bond on Wednesday. Her next court date in December 9.
