Brooklyn Woman Arraigned In Spring Valley Fire Investigation: DA

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — A woman from Brooklyn turned herself in to investigators Tuesday to face a reckless endangerment charge in connection with the fire investigation at an assisted living home in Spring Valley that resulted in the deaths of a resident and a firefighter.

Denise Kerr was arrested and arraigned on Tuesday, Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh said. The 51-year-old entered a not guilty plea to the misdemeanor count before Judge David Fried in a Spring Valley courtroom.

Kerr was released on her own recognizance. She is next scheduled to appear in court on October 12.

The Evergreen Court Home for Adults was a massive three-story building at 65 Lafayette St. The assisted living facility, which housed 112 residents, was a converted hotel built in 1903.

Kerr, 51, was identified as the facility's director by The Journal News.

Firefighters and others told TJN in April that the assisted living home was commonly considered a death trap.

A firefighter trying to rescue residents was killed in the conflagration, as was a resident. The resident has not been publicly named. The volunteer firefighter was Spring Valley resident Jared Lloyd.

Investigators into the cause of the fatal fire include the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Office of Fire Prevention and Control, the Rockland County Sheriff's Office and the Spring Valley Police Department.

SEE ALSO:

• Spring Valley Fire: Investigation Will Take Time, Officials Say
• Rockland Mourns: Fallen Firefighter Jared Lloyd Laid To Rest
• Fatal Fire: Sources Say Alarms Were Off For Pre-Passover Cleaning

Editor's Note: Kerr was identified by several news outlets as the facility's former director. This article has been revised to say so.