County Prosecutors secure convictions for 2010 fire in Cicero that killed seven The owner of a Cicero apartment building has been convicted on multiple counts of First Degree Murder for setting a fire that killed seven people in a scheme to cash in on the property’s insurance policy, according to the office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez. Late this afternoon a Cook County Jury convicted Lawrence Myers, 64, of Cicero, on seven counts of First Degree Murder. The jury deliberated for about one hour and 30 minutes before announcing the guilty verdicts at the Cook County Criminal Courthouse in Maywood. According to prosecutors, Meyers and the building’s manager, Marion Comier, 51, were charged in connection with the 2010 deadly fire after authorities developed information that the blaze was intentionally set. Killed in the fire were Byron Reed, 20; Sallie Gist, 18; their sons, Rayshawn Reed, 3, and Brian Reed, 3 days old; Gist’s 16-year-old twin siblings, Elijah and Elisha Gist, and family friend Tiera Davidson, 18. Three Cicero firefighters were also injured battling the blaze. The fire occurred on Feb. 14, 2010 at approximately 6:30 am in a two-story apartment building located at 3034 S. 48th Court in Cicero. Prosecutors said Myers executed the plan to set the fire in an attempt to collect on an insurance policy that he held on the building, valued in excess of $250,000. Myers enlisted the aid of Comier, who worked for him as the building manager or maintenance man. According to prosecutors, the fire was intentionally set on the back porch of the first floor at the rear of the building. The building had two two bedroom apartments and two three-bedroom apartments. The first floor rear apartment was the only one that was vacant and not occupied by tenants when the fire was set. Fire investigators said the blaze spread quickly through the frame building, causing the roof to collapse and spreading to the second floor attic where the victims were sleeping. According to prosecutors, there was only one exit from the second floor attic and the victims were quickly trapped as the fire raged up the stair well and closed off the only exit. The victims died from carbon monoxide intoxication due to smoke inhalation. Meyers faces a mandatory life sentence for this conviction. Comier, the co-defendant in this case, is awaiting trial. State’s Attorney Alvarez thanked Assistant State’s Attorneys Mary Lacy, Matthew Thrun and Russell Baker for their handling of the case as well as the Cicero Police and Fire Departments, the Cook County Sheriff ’s Office and the Office of the State Fire Marshal for their assistance.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 23:40:09 +0000
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