News
Youngstown fire victim was a fourth grade student at South Range
The Green Township man suspected of raping one of the victims who died in an early morning house fire is now in the Mahoning County jail.
Monday, March 30th 2015, 5:23 AM EDT
Updated:
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The Green Township man suspected of raping one of the victims who died in an early morning house fire is now in the Mahoning County jail.
Forty-six-year old Robert Seman, Jr. was booked into the jail Monday morning, just hours after a fire claimed the lives of a couple and a young girl at a home on the 3600 block of Powers Way
The three victims were all found on the second floor. They are identified by the family as 63-year-old William Schmidt, his 61-year old wife Judith and their ten-year-old granddaughter.
South Range School officials say the girl was a 4th grade elementary student and have assembled a crisis team to make counseling available to students and staff affected by the loss.
Counselors will also be available Monday evening from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the K-12 Complex, and will be open at 7:00 am on Tuesday, March 31st for students, staff and parents.
The girl was the alleged victim in a rape case against Seman, who was supposed to go on trial today on four counts of rape and four counts of gross sexual imposition.
According to an indictment handed up one year ago, the alleged assaults took place over a period of four and a half years, from the time the girl was only four years old, and continued until she was eight.
Investigators tell 21 News that they revoked Seman's bond because of a bribery allegation, and his incarceration has nothing to do with the fire.
Seman had been under electronically monitored house arrest since April of last year.
Relatives of the victims tell 21 News that they have no reason to believe that Seman had anything to do with the fire.
The Arson Squad, the Ohio Fire Marshal and city police detectives are investigating the fire. Authorities say that so far they have found no evidence that the fire was suspicious in origin.
Neighbors told 21 News that they heard what sounded like two explosions at about 3:30 a.m. Monday.
Youngstown Fire Chief John O'Neil confirmed that crews discovered three people dead inside the home. He said they arrived to a scene engulfed in heavy fire. Chief O'Neil also said firefighters faced difficulties in the home while trying to get the victims out, such as floors falling through.
This is a developing story. 21 News will have more information as it becomes available.
Counselors will also be available Monday evening from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the K-12 Complex, and will be open at 7:00 am on Tuesday, March 31st for students, staff and parents.
The girl was the alleged victim in a rape case against Seman, who was supposed to go on trial today on four counts of rape and four counts of gross sexual imposition.
According to an indictment handed up one year ago, the alleged assaults took place over a period of four and a half years, from the time the girl was only four years old, and continued until she was eight.
Investigators tell 21 News that they revoked Seman's bond because of a bribery allegation, and his incarceration has nothing to do with the fire.
Seman had been under electronically monitored house arrest since April of last year.
Relatives of the victims tell 21 News that they have no reason to believe that Seman had anything to do with the fire.
The Arson Squad, the Ohio Fire Marshal and city police detectives are investigating the fire. Authorities say that so far they have found no evidence that the fire was suspicious in origin.
Neighbors told 21 News that they heard what sounded like two explosions at about 3:30 a.m. Monday.
Youngstown Fire Chief John O'Neil confirmed that crews discovered three people dead inside the home. He said they arrived to a scene engulfed in heavy fire. Chief O'Neil also said firefighters faced difficulties in the home while trying to get the victims out, such as floors falling through.
This is a developing story. 21 News will have more information as it becomes available.
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