COLORADO SPRINGS — Dispatchers who received a 911 call from a home where a mother allegedly set a fire that killed one child and critically injured four others could hear one of the children saying, “Why did you kill him?” according to a probable-cause affidavit filed in the case.
A child came on the phone and told dispatchers that “oil” was on fire, everyone in the house was hurt and a 10-year-old boy was dead, the affidavit says.
Colorado Springs police arrested Maria Joseph, 25, on suspicion of first-degree murder for killing her 16-month-old child, Ashia M. Joseph.
Four other children — Dontrell Gardner, 9; Domenic Gardner, 8; Supreme Joseph, 5; and Amarjahan Joseph, 3 — were in critical condition with severe burns. Two of the children were at Children’s Hospital in Aurora, and two were airlifted to a burn unit in Galveston, Texas.
The affidavit says 911 dispatchers received a call at 10:01 p.m. Monday from a woman who gave the address — 3225 Galena Court — but she did not provide any more information. The child then came on the phone.
An autopsy Tuesday determined that Ashia died of smoke inhalation and burns. The affidavit described Ashia’s body as “charred.” A deputy coroner who pronounced the child dead at the scene said the girl suffered severe burns over most of her body.
The affidavit also says that the 5-year-old boy had a “cut type” injury to his throat.
Police arrested Maria Joseph about a block from the home. She was taken to Penrose Hospital, where she was treated for superficial wounds to both wrists, both arms, neck and left ankle. A doctor told police the wounds appeared to be self-inflicted, according to the affidavit. She was being held without bond at El Paso County Jail.
Colorado Springs police Lt. Skip Arms said “an incendiary fire” was set in the master bedroom, where all of the children were found. The children were allegedly doused with gasoline and set on fire, sources said.
Arms said he was not at liberty to discuss what kind of evidence was recovered in the home.
Neighbors said an older woman, possibly a grandmother, had been living in the home. Arms said the only adult in the home Monday was Maria Joseph. The other woman had apparently moved out.
The father of the three youngest children, Simeon Joseph, 27, committed suicide in the home Oct. 8.
Erin Emery: 719-522-1360 or eemery@denverpost.com
