South Side Man Charged With Murder in Fire That Killed 3 Children, Adult

CHICAGO, IL -- A South Side man has been charged with setting a deadly fire last month that killed three young sisters and and adult.

Reginald Hestor, 51, of the 8000 block of South Essex Avenue, was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and two felony counts of aggravated arson causing bodily harm. He is due in court for a bond hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building later today.

Hester was taken into custody late Monday morning in the 9-100 block of South Waller, Chicago Police News Affairs said.

Chicago police said Hester was identified as the man who set fire to a courtyard apartment building in the 8100 block of South Essex Avenue on Aug. 23. The blaze claimed the lives 3-month-old Melanie Watson, who died when her father leaped from a third-story window holding the infant while trying to escape the fire.

Also killed in the fire was Madison Watson, 4, and 7-year-old Shaniyah Staples. Both girls were found deceased in their third-story apartment after firefighters struck the blaze.

A man who lived next door to the sisters also died.