HAMILTON, N.J. (WCBS 880) — A man is facing murder and arson charges for allegedly setting fire to a New Jersey home that claimed the lives of three people, including his infant daughter.
Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri announced Monday that 23-year-old Michael Sanders was arrested and charged in connection to the deadly fire that was set at a home on Woodlawn Avenue in Hamilton Township during the overnight hours on July 9.
Sanders’ 9-month-old daughter, Malani Sanders, and her 42-year-old grandmother, Tiffany Abrams-Jones, were killed in the fire. The child's grandfather, 50-year-old Prince Jones, was severely burned and died on July 11.
Prosecutors say a preliminary investigation revealed that during the night leading up to the fire the infant's mother received a text message from Sanders, telling her to take the baby out of the house.
Authorities say after sending that text, Sanders took a taxi from near his home in Trenton and was dropped off a block away from the Woodlawn Avenue home about 40 minutes before the fire erupted. He then walked to the Fast Trac Gas Station on Greenwood Avenue where he was seen on camera 10 minutes before the fire purchasing “what appears to be a dark colored torch lighter and cigars.”
Sanders left the store and was seen walking back in the direction of the home, according to prosecutors. The next time he was seen on camera, which was on Woodlawn Avenue, the “reflection of light from the fire” could also be seen.
Prosecutors say Sanders was later seen on camera walking back to his residence on Bayard Street in Trenton, apparently having ditched gloves, mask and hoodie that he was seen wearing in Hamilton Township. The hoodie was found in the bottom of a basement stairway near his home.
Authorities say he was arrested Monday at a hotel in Plainsboro.
Sanders has been 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.
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