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The Chicago Tribune has published a new article detailing the recent conviction of Lawrence Myers in connection with a deadly 2010 fire in Cicero. A jury found Myers, 64, guilty of seven counts of murder following a trial that concluded on Monday. The fire, which occurred on Valentine’s Day, 2010, claimed the lives of seven individuals, including four children.
According to prosecutors, Myers had planned to set fire to his building on 48th Court in an attempt to collect $250,000 in insurance money and relocate to West Virginia. Facing financial difficulties, he allegedly hired his maintenance man, Marion “Andre†Comier, 51, to carry out the arson. Comier is currently awaiting trial on murder charges.
The fire broke out on the back porch of the four-flat apartment building at 3034 S. 48th Court and quickly spread, trapping residents inside. Victims included Byron Reed, 20, Sallie Gist, 19, their young sons Rayshawn and Brian, who were just three years old and only three days old respectively, as well as Sallie’s twin siblings Elijah and Elisha Gist, both 16, and family friend Tiera Davidson, 18. All died from carbon monoxide poisoning due to smoke inhalation.
The jury reached its verdict in just 90 minutes, convicting Myers of each of the seven murders. Authorities revealed that two days after the fire, three individuals came forward to police, reporting that they had overheard Myers and Comier discussing plans to burn down the building.
Investigators uncovered evidence of a conspiracy between Myers and Comier to commit arson for financial gain. A cooperating witness wore a wire and provided crucial information that helped build the case against them. On one of the recordings, Myers expressed regret, telling Comier that the fire had been set at the wrong time and that he hadn’t intended for anyone to be hurt.
In conversations captured over five separate days, Myers criticized Comier for not following his instructions. He reportedly told Comier to set the fire in the afternoon before children returned from school and promised him $3,000 for the job. He also claimed he never wanted anyone to be harmed.
Shortly after the fire, Myers filed an insurance claim for the damaged property. After his arrest, he confessed to detectives, citing his financial struggles as the main motivation behind the crime.
Myers is scheduled to be sentenced on December 16, and according to officials, he faces a mandatory life sentence.
Thanks, Dan.