COLORADO SPRINGS — A 1-year-old child died Monday night in a house fire in Colorado Springs, and her mother has been jailed on suspicion of first-degree murder.
Four other children — a 3-year-old girl and three boys ages 5, 8 and 9 — were injured. They were listed in critical condition at Children’s Hospital in Aurora.
Colorado Springs police said charges are expected to be filed against the mother of the children, 25-year-old Maria Joseph.
An explosion at about 10 p.m. Monday ripped through the home in the 3200 block of Galena Court, police said.
Colorado Springs police and firefighters rescued the children from the burning home but 16-month-old Ashia Joseph died at the scene, Colorado Springs police said.
An autopsy completed this afternoon said her death was caused by smoke inhalation and “thermal” injuries. Her death was ruled a homicide.
A 911 call from inside the home alerted authorities to the fire. Police have not determined who made the call.
Maria Joseph was found about a block from the home. She was taken to Penrose Hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. She was released from the hospital this afternoon and booked into the El Paso County Criminal Justice center.
Police believe Joseph was in the home when the incident occurred. They did not release the names of any of the victims.
Joseph’s husband, Simeon, committed suicide at the home on Oct. 8, according to El Paso County coroner Robert Bux.
