DARBY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A deadly fire in Delaware County over the weekend is being called “one of the most evil and vile acts” prosecutors have ever seen. Investigators say a man set fire to his ex-girlfriend’s house to get back at her for breaking up with him.
The blaze killed a 20-year-old disabled woman who was inside.
Aaron Clark, 30, from Cobbs Creek, is charged with first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder for allegedly setting fire to the home on the 600 block of Sharon Avenue just after midnight on Sunday.
Investigators say 20-year-old Olivia Drasher, who died in the fire, had cerebral palsy and was nonverbal and paraplegic, so she was unable to escape the flames.
Officials say Clark set the house on fire to get back at Drasher’s sister, who had just ended a six-month relationship with him. Investigators believe Clark knew his ex’s sister was in the house and knew she would not be able to get out.
“Aaron Clark has committed one of the most evil and vile acts I have ever seen,” said Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer. “She died of smoke inhalation and thermal burns. So she was in this house, unable to move, unable to communicate as her body is being fried.
“She’s choking to death because of the smoke, all because Mr. Clark was angry about her older sister breaking up with him.”
Stollsteimer said Clark also sent his ex-girlfriend threatening texts, even after he was arrested and put in jail.
“They found out he had secreted an Apple Watch inside his rectum in the cell, just so he could send more threatening messages,” he said.
The fire had engulfed the front of the home by the time police arrived. Crews did all they could to try to rescue Drasher, but the flames were too intense.
“This is all about intimate, intimate partner violence, and it’s been taken to the highest degree possible,” Stollsteimer added. “Mr. Clark tried to kill four people because one of their family members did not want to be romantically involved with him anymore.”
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