Man Suspected of Setting Fire for Revenge Could Get Death Penalty

A 21-year-old man is facing possible death in the gas chamber for allegedly setting a revenge fire at a small downtown Los Angeles apartment house where four people were fatally burned and four others were seriously injured, police said Thursday.

One of those who died after the fire that swept through a two-room apartment in the dingy building at 1116 S. Flower St. last Jan. 6 was an 8-month-old girl and another was a 2-year-old boy. A third was a 16-year-old girl.

All were members of an extended family of Mexican garment workers, nine of whom slept in one room and six in the other.

Suspect Arrested

Augustine Morales was arrested last week by LAPD Central Division Detectives Al Gonzales and Rick Lane after, police said, interviews with other residents indicated that he had argued with the manager about back rent and that he was angry because his mother had been fired as manager of the building several months earlier.

“It was an unsolved (case),” Lt. Tom Lorenzen said Thursday. “We went back and took another look at it. We talked to some people we hadn’t talked to before.”

At the time of the fire, which erupted after a third floor landing was splashed with gasoline, it was learned that there had been three other arson attempts during the preceding week.

Eugenio Leon Jr., the 2-year-old, died three days later. His father, Eugenio Leon Sr., 27, died Jan. 13 and Alicia Leon, 16, died Jan. 21. Maria Jenny Roman, 8 months, died Feb. 4.

Injured in the blaze were Antonia Leon, 24; Juan Leon, 18; Eugenio Roman, 22, and Othelia Hernandez, 20. A spokesman for the district attorney’s office said he was not clear on the precise relationships of the dead and injured.

Crawled Along Ledge

Other occupants managed to escape by crawling along a ledge to a fire escape. Two children were saved by being dropped into blankets held by adults on the ground.

One survivor said members of the family had migrated at different times from Puebla, Mexico, to share the $460-a-month apartment. The adults worked at nearby garment factories, but most had been temporarily laid off.

Morales was charged with four counts of murder with special circumstances, which could lead to the death penalty. He was also charged with four counts of arson causing great bodily injury and four counts of burglary.

He was to be rearraigned Thursday before Judge Glenette Blackwell in Municipal Court Division 30, but that was postponed until next Friday. He remained in custody without bail.