PHILADELPHIA-May 17, 2005 — A fire that **** three Philadelphia children over the weekend was intentionally set according to investigators.
Police announced charges have been filed against a woman who allegedly set the Kensington home ablaze. Mahogany, Sharonda and Shawn Porter died in the fire. Two siblings, and their mother remain in critical condition with severe burns.
Juanita Clark is grateful the woman police say is responsible for her relatives deaths is behind bars.
Police believe 22-year-old Zakeeyah Harper set the house fire that **** 3 children, and left 2 of their siblings and their mother, Jamika Clark with 3rd degree burns struggling for life. Police say she admits she used an accelerant to ignite the fatal fire because of a conflict with the children's mother over a man.
Karen Clark cannot believe what's happened to her daughter and grandchildren. As relatives stood vigil at Temple Hospital, Jamika's sister said the suspect made what she mistakenly thought was an idle threat the night before the fire.
Standing next to her she said, "If I find anybody that's messing with my husband, I'm a **** them and they kids."
And Jamika Clark, who lies sedated in Temple hospital, has not been told about her children.
Pastor Laura Cossom/****'s Great Aunt: "To be told laying there fighting for your life that 3 of your children had died and two critical, that is not something we want the mother to hear while she's fighting for her own life."
Clark managed to toss her youngest child out window to safety.
Mahagany (7), Sharonda (4), and Shawn (6) Porter
Zakeeyah Harper, 22
