A Pennsylvania man has been charged with setting a house fire on Sunday which killed his ex-girlfriend’s younger sister.
Aaron Clark, 30, allegedly intentionally set a fire at a Darby Township home which killed Olivia Drasher, 20. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Clark was frustrated that his girlfriend — Drasher’s sister — broke up with him.
Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said Drasher had cerebral palsy and used a wheelchair. The fire reportedly started outside Drasher’s first-floor bedroom and quickly spread.
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Drasher’s sister had reported to police that Clark choked her as she broke up with him on Saturday, a day before the deadly fire. Hours after the fire, Clark was arrested for a warrant related to the alleged assault.
Per the news outlet, the ex-girlfriend and Clark both worked at the Postal Service. At some point, she reportedly filed a complaint with the Postal Inspection Service regarding his aggressive behavior.
After the complaint was filed, Clark allegedly threatened to post sensitive videos and pictures of his girlfriend if she did not talk to him.
“Pick up before I do something crazy, hope you don’t miss the show,” he wrote to his ex-girlfriend hours before the fire, according to WPSG.
Police alleged that Clark was seen throwing an object on the family’s front porch on Sunday. The witness spotted an orange glow and Clark quickly walking away, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Everyone else was able to safely leave the home, but they could not get to Drasher. Firefighters were also unable to make entry due to the intense smoke and flames.
Officials determined Drasher died from both smoke inhalation and burns.
Clark is charged with first-degree murder, arson, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, and terroristic threats with the intent to terrorize another.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Clark sent messages to the victim’s family while being detained. Clark allegedly assaulted officers as they investigated the matter. They later concluded Clark had stashed an Apple Watch in his rectum.
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[Featured image: Aaron Clark/Darby Township Police Department; Olivia Drasher/Facebook]
