AKRON, Ohio — Editor's Note: The above video features previous reporting on this story
The Akron Fire Department and the Akron Police Department have announced that the mother of the two children killed in a house fire last week has been arrested.
33-year-old Masiame Donzo has been charged with endangering children and reckless homicide. She is currently being held in the Summit County Jail.
According to a joint release from the two departments, no adult or guardian was present at the time of the fire in the 1200 block of 7th Avenue on May 23. When fire companies arrived just before 7 p.m., they discovered smoke coming from the second-floor windows of the two-story, residential structure. Two children -- 10-year-old Abou Jabateh and eight-year-old Fatumata Jabateh -- were taken from the home and transported to Akron Children's Hospital, where they were pronounced dead. The release adds that both children had multiple disabilities.
Donzo was contacted from the scene by an Akron police officer.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, although fire investigators say the area of origin is the first floor living room.
On the day after the fire, Akron Public Schools Superintendent Christine Fowler Mack sent the following letter to district staff notifiying them of the deaths of Fatumata and Abou Jabateh:
"We ask for your support and prayers today as we grieve the loss of two of our students. Eight year old Fatumata Jabateh was in second grade at Seiberling CLC, and 1o year old Abou Jabateh attended fourth grade at Barber CLC. They were in their home when it caught fire yesterday.
We know that you join us in conveying our condolences to Fatumata and Abou's family, and to the faculty, staff, and classmates at Barber and Seiberling who cared deeply for each of these children. We offer them any assistance the district can provide. Our counseling teams are available to anyone who wishes to talk with them about this tragic event.
Our entire staff joins us in expressing our deepest sympathies to everyone who loved these children and everyone they loved."
Editor's Note: The below video features previous reporting on this story
More Headlines: