13-Year-Old Girl Charged with Murder and Arson After Mom of 3 Is Found Dead: 'Devastating’

A 13-year-old girl has been charged with the murder of a woman in England.

On Tuesday, March 11, the Northamptonshire Police shared in a press release that the teen, who can’t be named for legal purposes, was also “charged with arson with intent to endanger life.” 

“She was arrested on Monday following the discovery of a body in a house in Newcomen Road, shortly after 3 am that morning,” the release read. “Formal identification has yet to be confirmed, but she is believed to be 43-year-old mother-of-three Marta Bednarczyk.”

Police added, “A forensic post-mortem investigation, which took place today at Leicester Royal Infirmary, gave the preliminary cause of death as being a result of sharp force injury.”

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Authorities said that police and the fire department arrived at the house after reports of a fire.

Bednarczyk’s body was then found inside the property by police officers, with paramedics declaring her dead at the scene at 3:29 a.m. local time.

The teen is set to appear at Northampton Magistrates Court on March 12.

“This evening we have formally charged a 13-year-old Wellingborough girl with murder, and arson, and she will appear before Northampton Magistrates Court at 10am tomorrow,” Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell, the senior investigating officer from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said in a statement. 

“I want to take a moment to thank the many police officers and staff who are working and continue to work tirelessly on this investigation since the very tragic events of early yesterday morning. And, in particular, all our thoughts are with Marta’s family who have been fully co-operative throughout what has been a devastating couple of days for them,” Campbell added.

“Given the developments this evening, we will be making no further comment at this time,” he concluded.