A Pregnant Pa. Mom and Her Small Children Were Killed in a House Fire — and Police Say It Was Set on Purpose

A pregnant woman and her two children died, and two others were injured in a house fire in Philadelphia that police say was intentionally set.

A person was taken into custody for further questioning, but “no charges have been filed at this time,” according to a Philadelphia Police Department press release. “The investigation is active and ongoing with the Homicide Unit.”

The arson fire broke out just before 5 a.m. Friday, June 13 in the 2500 block of N. Corlies Street in Philadelphia’s Strawberry Mansion neighborhood.

“Upon arrival, officers found the property fully engulfed in flames,” according to the press release. “While firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, five individuals were discovered inside the residence.”

Firefighters found the 31-year-old mother deceased on the second floor of the rowhouse, NBC10 reported. Her two children were taken to a local hospital where they died, police said.

A family member identified the victims as Ashley Thompson and her two children, Alayna and Asad, according to NBC10. Thompson was seven months pregnant, the family member said, per NBC 10.

“Innocent kids, my nephew just graduated yesterday,” Chyna, a family member, told NBC10. “Assad, that little boy, he just graduated yesterday.”

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“I’m hurt. I don’t even feel real, I just left out of the house and seen her and everybody yesterday,” she said.

A 54-year-old woman managed to escape the blaze along with a third child, police said. Both are currently listed in stable condition at the hospital.

A GoFundMe page described Thompson as “a loving mother, daughter, and friend.”

“Her children were her joy, her purpose, and the light of so many lives around them,” according to the fundraiser.