Deaf Arsonist Set Fire To Deaf Family's Home

Deaf News: A drug-fuelled arsonist poured a gallon of petrol on to the house of a Deaf family sleeping inside before setting it on fire.

LONDON, UK -- A drug-fuelled arsonist has been sentenced to jail after he was caught red-handed on camera trying to set the home of a Deaf family on fire while they were sleeping inside.

Michael Douglas was paid £1,600 to target the victims by pouring petrol onto their house and then setting it alight in the early hours of the early morning.

The family's CCTV cameras caught Douglas, who is profoundly Deaf himself, and an unknown accomplice running up to the house in Bradford, West Yorkshire, emptying a gallon of fuel and setting it alight before making their escape.

The shocking moment a drug-fuelled arsonist poured a gallon of petrol on to the house of a Deaf family sleeping inside before setting it on fire.

Bradford Crown Court heard that the arsonist was drunk and high on cocaine and cannabis when he carried out the attack at 5am on May 26.

He has been jailed for five years and three months after pleading guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered as well as a variety of motoring offences.

Douglas told police he had been paid £1,600 to 'light the house' but had refused to kidnap the mother who lived there because the whole family was Deaf, the Telegraph & Argus reported.

After the 26-year-old father of four and his accomplice fled the scene, a neighbour called 999 and the victims were unharmed, although the ground floor of their house, their garage and the wheelie bins were damaged... Read The Full Story.

Girl & Deaf Grandparents Killed In House Fire

Girl and Deaf grandparents killed in house fire hours before rape trial in the small town of Ohio.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- A northeast Ohio prosecutor says a 10-year-old girl died in a house fire early Monday morning, hours before a man suspected of raping her was scheduled to go on trial.

A total of three people were reported dead by the Youngstown Fire Department after the blaze on the city’s south side.

Neighbors in the 3600-block of Powers Way say they heard a loud explosion around 3:30 a.m.; moments later, they saw flames rip through the two-story home. “I looked out the window and the fire broke out from the bottom of the basement, just whoosh. And it was totally on fire.”

Dozens of firefighters were needed to control the flames. When it was out, firefighters found the bodies of two adults and their 10-year-old granddaughter. The adults are identified as Billy and Judy Schmidt, both in their 60s.

“Everybody who knew Billy loved him. He had friends all over the United States, he could probably go anywhere in the country and probably run into somebody that he knew,” said Connie Glozier, the victim’s sister.

The Schmidts, who were both Deaf, were raising their granddaughter. Neighbor Pamela Jones says the girl played with her grandchildren.

“I just can’t believe that something like this would happen,” said Jones. “I’ve been crying all day.”

Adding to the tragedy of this fire, the 10-year-old girl was the victim of an alleged sexual assault. The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Robert Seman, appeared in court this morning.

“On literally the eve of trial, hours before this trial was supposed to begin, this victim dies in a fire under suspicious circumstances, at the very least,” said Mahoning County Assistant District Attorney Stephanie McLaughlin. “Only 10 years old, somebody who did not deserve these things that happened to her.”

Seman has not been charged in connection with the fire, but his bond was revoked and he was taken to jail. If convicted on the rape charges, he could face a maximum sentence of life in prison... Read The Full Story.

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Dog Saves Deaf Boy From Fire

A 2-year-old pit bull named Ace is being called a hero after waking his Deaf owner, a 13-year-old boy, during a devastating house fire.

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- A 2-year-old male pit bull named Ace was being hailed as a hero Wednesday, after waking his Deaf teenage owner during a devastating house fire. The teen's cochlear implants were turned off, so the dog licked his face to wake him up.

At 1:11 p.m., Indianapolis firefighters were called to fight a fire at a home on the city's south side, officials said. Upon their arrival, flames were shooting from the garage.

Officials said Nick Lamb, 13, who is Deaf, was sleeping in the house at the time. Ace was able to alert Nick and awaken him by licking his face. "He was thankful that Ace entered his room and licked his face until he woke up," Indianapolis Fire Department Capt. Rita Reith said in a news release. "The boy quickly covered his nose and mouth with his T-shirt and exited the rear of the house."

Lamb said he was taught at school about covering his face and finding the nearest exit. Without his shoes but with Ace by his side, he darted out of the back door before calling his mother and 911. "I couldn't hear anything because I had my cochlear implants off - My dog Ace smelled it," Lamb said. "I just wanted to get out."

The fire-blackened home had $175,000 in damage. But Ace and Lamb made it out safely. No one else was home when the fire started.

Lindsay Bernard, Lamb's mother, says she rushed home from work after getting the call. Her mind was racing throughout the trip. "I went into a little bit of a panic," she said. "When I got here - the streets were covered. It was mainly just panic and chaos."... Read The Full Story.

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