Perth, Warnbro: Murder investigation after a young mother-of-four is killed in a house fire – as a man, 35, and a little girl escape
A mother-of-four has died in a suspicious house fire and a murder investigation has been launched.
Erica Hay, 30, was discovered in a rear bedroom of a house in Currie Street, Warnbro, in Perth’s southern suburbs. Friday around 1am.
A 35-year-old man and a three-year-old girl escaped the home and were taken to Rockingham Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.
WA Police Acting Chief Inspector Dave Gorton said Ms Hay’s death was being treated “as a homicide”. The Western Australia reported.
“The death is being treated as suspicious at this time,” he said.
Erica Hay, 30, was discovered at around 1am on Friday morning in a rear bedroom of a house in Currie Street, Warnbro, in Perth’s southern suburbs (pictured)
A 35-year-old man and a three-year-old girl escaped from the house (pictured) and were taken to Rockingham Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation
The man who escaped the fire and who police allege was known to Ms Hay is assisting police with their investigation.
No charges have been filed yet.
“There is no risk to the public, but the scene at the house was ‘very confronting’ for the paramedics and police who attended the fire,” Gorton said.
‘I think it was a very confrontational situation for the emergency workers and other emergency services.’
Authorities have yet to determine Ms Hay’s cause of death.
“We have been in contact with the forensic pathologists and we are still waiting for information on the cause of death,” Gorton said.
The toddler is in stable condition while the man is released from hospital.
Police forensics on Friday focused on the home’s backyard, where one officer was seen a red Bic lighter in an evidence bag.
A covered police tent was also placed in the backyard.
The West reported that officers from the arson squad left the home around 3 p.m. while forensics remained on scene.