Florida mom of two young girls who died in apartment fire arrested for manslaughter

The mother of two young girls who died in an apartment fire last Saturday morning in Pompano Beach, Florida, is facing two counts of aggravated manslaughter of a child. Broward Sheriff’s Office homicide detectives and special agents with Homeland Security Investigations arrested Jeny Melendez-Ramirez on October 19, almost one week after her two daughters died in that fatal fire. The mother was taken into custody following a traffic stop in Pompano Beach.

Around 9:30 a.m. on October 13, neighbors at the Banyan Club apartments at 1830 N.E. 48 St. called for help after seeing smoke billowing from apartment 314 in that complex.  Pompano Beach Fire Rescue arrived and extinguished the fire, locating the bodies of the two young girls inside the home. BSO homicide detectives and investigators from the Division of the State Fire Marshal and Pompano Beach Fire Inspectors responded to investigate.

The two deceased sisters were identified by police as Abigail Espinoza, five-months-old, and Sofia Melendez, five-years-old.

Melendez-Ramirez, 22, told detectives she left her daughters and her two-year-old son in the care of her 16-year-old sister, Saydi Melendez, while she went to work. Saydi told detectives her sister told her to take the two-year-old and go to Walmart to get some baby food.

Detectives say Melendez-Ramirez caused the death of her kids through culpable negligence. Her teenage sister and surviving child have been placed in state custody.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact BSO Homicide Detective John Curcio at 954-321-4210. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477) or online at browardcrimestoppers.org.

Also see:  Early morning fire in Pompano Beach leaves two young girls dead

(Source: BSO)

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~ Written by: Richard Webster, Ace News Today   /   Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter