Woman Charged With Murder In Fatal Rogers Park Fire: Police

CHICAGO, IL — A woman has been charged with murder and arson in a fatal Rogers Park fire that broke out earlier this week. Margaret Reed, 44, is accused of deliberately setting the fire that forced a woman to jump from the window of an apartment Tuesday morning, police said. Reed was arrested Tuesday night, police said.

Reed was identified as the person who set fire to the back porch of the apartment, according to police. The fire started around 5:20 a.m. in the 1700 block of West Touhy Avenue and spread rapidly up the back porches into the building, officials said.

Maria Silva, 51, jumped out her window from the top floor of the building to escape the fire, officials said. She was taken to St. Francis Hospital, where she was pronounced dead later that morning, authorities said.

Another person was also injured in the fire and taken to Weiss Memorial Hospital in fair to serious condition, fire officials said.

Police did not release information about Reed's motive for setting the fire.

Reed, of the 2100 block of West Foster Avenue, has been charged with two felony counts of murder and one felony count of aggravated arson. She was scheduled to appear at a bond hearing Friday at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse.

Image: Margaret Reed, 44, via Chicago Police Department