A man who set a fire that killed two people and severely injured a teenage girl was sentenced Wednesday to 50 years to life in a state prison.
Efrem Zimbalist Demery, 31, of Los Angeles pleaded no contest to two counts of murder and one count of arson of a structure.
“Although the life sentence in this case does not bring back the victims, it does hold the defendant accountable for his deadly actions,” Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement.
“My deepest sympathies go out to the families, whose lives were forever altered by this atrocious crime.”
Demery used gasoline and a lighter he bought at a gas station across the street from Top Notch Studios, a recording studio located on Cahuenga Boulevard in Studio City.
Demery then set fire to the studio while Devaughn Carter, 28, and Michael Pollard, 30, slept.
"While the firefighters were en route, they were getting reports that there were people trapped inside," said LAFD Assistant Chief Patrick Butler in 2018, according to ABC 7.
"That caused us to immediately go into search operations."
The fire at the recording studio was extinguished within 30 minutes. However, Carter and Pollard died in the fire and a 15-year-old girl was seriously injured by the time the fire was put out.
Demery was involved in a confrontation with the two victims the day before he killed them.