Fayetteville man charged with involuntary manslaughter in deadly house fire
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- A Fayetteville man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with a house fire that killed his mother earlier this week, authorities said.
The Fayetteville Fire Department and the Fayetteville Police Department launched a joint investigation after the fatal blaze Wednesday afternoon in the 1700 block of Empress Lane. Detectives with the police department's Homicide Unit later assumed control of the investigation.
The victim was identified as Jamey Ruth Smith, 63, of Fayetteville, police said.
Firefighters, police officers and emergency medical personnel were called to the scene at about 2:34 p.m. Wednesday after reports of a structure fire. First responders arrived to find flames coming from the home.
ABC11 is tracking crime and safety across Fayetteville and in your neighborhood
A man was able to escape the home by climbing out of a window and was not injured, authorities said. Fire department personnel entered the residence and found Smith suffering from fire-related injuries. She was taken to a hospital, where she later died, officials said.
Investigators determined that Smith and her son, Maurice Anthony Briscoe Jr., 41, were inside the home at the time of the fire. After conducting multiple interviews and a thorough investigation, detectives concluded that Briscoe's actions resulted in the fire that claimed his mother's life, police said.
Briscoe was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter. He is being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center under a $25,000 secured bond.
The cause and origin of the fire were investigated as part of the joint probe by fire and police officials. No additional details were released.
