Man Charged With Murder In Fire That Killed His Baby, 2 Others

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A Trenton man has been charged for setting the July 9 fire in Hamilton that killed three people including his infant daughter, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri said.

Michael Sanders, 23, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of first-degree felony murder, three counts of second-degree aggravated assault, two counts of second-degree aggravated arson, and one count of causing widespread injury or damage.

Sanders was taken into custody Monday morning at a hotel in Plainsboro, Onofri said. The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain Sanders pending trial.

Nine-Month-Old Baby, Grandparents Among Victims

On July 9, around 3:40 a.m., a fire started at a two-story home in 213 Woodlawn Avenue, quickly spreading across the wood frame duplex, causing a partial roof collapse, Onofri said.

A 9-month-old baby girl, identified as Malani Sanders, and her 42-year-old grandmother, Tiffany Abrams-Jones, were found dead at the scene, authorities said. Three people were taken to a local hospital with critical burn injuries. On Sunday, July 11, 50-year-old Prince Jones, succumbed to his injuries. Jones and Abrams-Jones were the grandparents of the baby, authorities said.

Read More Here: Grandmother, 9-Month-Old Killed In Mercer County House Fire

Detectives working on the investigation retrieved video from numerous cameras in the area and spoke to witnesses. According to authorities, a witness told detectives that on the night leading up to the fire, the baby’s mother received a text from Sanders, telling her to get their child out of the house.

Authorities said Sanders took a taxi from Trenton and was dropped off approximately one block from 213 Woodlawn Avenue a little after 3 a.m. Sanders, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt with the hood over his head, a mask, and white gloves, walked past the residence towards Greenwood Avenue around 15 minutes before the fire started, authorities said.

Surveillance video from the Fast Trac Gas Station on Greenwood Avenue from July 9, around 10 minutes before the fire, showed Sanders making a purchase of what appears to be a dark-colored torch lighter and cigars, Onofri said.

According to authorities, Sanders removed the mask during purchase and was observed walking on Woodlawn Avenue, in the direction of 213 Woodlawn. Around four minutes after Sanders passed that camera, the reflection of light from the fire at 213 Woodlawn was captured on the video, authorities said.

Sanders walked back to his residence in Trenton, no longer wearing a mask or gloves, authorities said.

Detectives canvassing the area recovered a dark hooded sweatshirt a few doors down from Sanders’ residence in the bottom of a basement stairway, the prosecutor’s office said.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call HTF Detective Jennifer Eyster at (609) 989-6406. Information can also be emailed to mchtftips@mercercounty.org.

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