Daughter's Alleged Care Home Arson Leaves Elderly Hanging from Windows in Milwaukee
A shocking criminal complaint has emerged from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, detailing allegations that a 48-year-old woman deliberately set fire to a housing complex where her elderly father resided, forcing vulnerable residents to evacuate by hanging from windows.
Chilling Details of the Alleged Attack
According to court documents obtained by local media, Laquita Spears is accused of igniting a blaze at two locations within her father's apartment on January 13, 2026, following a heated argument about money. The complaint states that Spears, who had been living in the building for several weeks, used charcoal fluid and a cigarette lighter to set fire to a coat hanging near the apartment entrance and a couch along the living room wall.
As she allegedly started the fire, Spears reportedly screamed "burn motherf***** burn!" at her father before leaving him to face the growing inferno. The father, identified in documents as "CT," attempted unsuccessfully to extinguish the flames as they rapidly consumed his flat.
Dangerous Evacuation for Vulnerable Residents
The complex, which police described as housing primarily elderly and disabled residents, lacked a fire-fighting sprinkler system, forcing occupants to undertake dangerous self-evacuation measures. The criminal complaint describes residents "hanging out of windows" as they attempted to escape the spreading blaze.
Multiple residents suffered smoke inhalation and other injuries during the chaotic evacuation, with one individual hospitalized after being found unresponsive and not breathing in the aftermath of the fire. The building's vulnerable population faced particular danger given their limited mobility and health conditions.
Pattern of Concerning Behavior
Court documents reveal that Spears had been exhibiting increasingly unstable behavior in the weeks leading up to the alleged arson. Her father reported that she had been "constantly talking to herself" for approximately two weeks before the incident.
The argument that allegedly triggered the fire centered on $5 that Spears believed should have been lent to her by a family member. When her father told her she could no longer stay in his apartment, Spears reportedly continued screaming and cursing at him before allegedly setting the fires.
Criminal Charges and Prior History
Spears now faces charges of arson and reckless endangerment for her alleged actions. During police interviews, she admitted to squirting charcoal fluid on clothing in a laundry basket placed on a living room table and igniting the fluid at both locations, though she claimed she didn't intend to hurt anyone or anticipate how rapidly the fire would spread.
Notably, the complaint reveals that Spears has prior sentences for arson, adding context to the current allegations. The incident has raised serious questions about fire safety in residential facilities housing vulnerable populations and the adequacy of support systems for individuals exhibiting concerning behavioral patterns.
The Milwaukee case continues to develop as authorities process the full implications of the alleged attack on a community of elderly and disabled residents who faced terrifying evacuation circumstances due to the spreading blaze.
