The Region - News from April 7, 1987

An elderly homeless woman was killed when fire swept through her makeshift shelter near Lafayette Park. Los Angeles Police Lt. Ron Dina said the woman may have started a small fire in an attempt to keep warm amid the debris of the crude covering or may have fallen asleep while smoking. Dina said the Fire Department had previously warned the woman, identified as Maria Moynihan, in her early 70s, about starting fires for heat and cooking. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, but Ms. Moynihan, who had been badly burned, was pronounced dead at the scene.