Suspect Charged In Fatal Santa Monica Fire

SANTA MONICA, CA – Santa Monica Police Department Detectives filed charges Thursday morning on a suspect believed to be involved in an arson that killed a Santa Monica resident. The suspect is identified as Victoria Renae Darlington, 26, of Santa Monica, according to SMPD.

On April 30 at about 9:41 p.m., SMPD Officers responded to a radio call for service of a structure fire to a single-family residence in the 2600 block of 31st Street. The Santa Monica Fire Department was already on scene working to extinguish the fire to an attached garage by the time police arrived, the press release said. An elderly resident was discovered unconscious in the house. She was then treated at the scene by SMFD Paramedics and transported to a local hospital for treatment. She succumbed to her injuries and died at the hospital, according to the press release.

Evidence and information gathered from a preliminary investigation by SMPD and SMFD Arson Investigators indicated the fire was intentionally ignited, and Darlington was identified as a primary suspect. She was located and taken into custody in Riverside by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, according to SMPD.

Darlington has been charged with murder and arson to an inhabited structure. She remains in custody with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office on a $2 million bail pending future court proceedings, the press release said.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact Detective Cooper (310) 458-8478; Detective Leone (310) 458-8949; or the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8491.

A previous version of this article stated that the fire occurred on May 1. It has since been corrected.

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