MINEOLA, N.Y. (WPIX) -
A teenage volunteer firefighter was indicted Tuesday by a Nassau County grand jury on multiple murder charges for allegedly setting the blaze that killed a mother and her three children.
19-year-old Caleb Lacey, a volunteer fireman for the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Volunteer Fire Department, is accused of setting the fire back in February at a home in Lawrence, then going to the firehouse to wait for the 911 call. Cops say Lacey set the blaze because he wanted to be a hero and help in the rescue, however his alleged plan went horribly wrong.
46-year-old Morena Vanegas, her 19-year-old son and 9-and-13-year-old daughters, ended up being trapped by the flames and all four died. Other members of the Vanegas family and one other family managed to escape by jumping out windows.
Lacey is being held on second degree murder charges on two theories. A spokesman for Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice told Newsday that she's charging him with four counts of depraved indifference murder and four counts of arson murder. He's scheduled to be arraigned on May 19.
19-year-old Caleb Lacey, a volunteer fireman for the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Volunteer Fire Department, is accused of setting the fire back in February at a home in Lawrence, then going to the firehouse to wait for the 911 call. Cops say Lacey set the blaze because he wanted to be a hero and help in the rescue, however his alleged plan went horribly wrong.
46-year-old Morena Vanegas, her 19-year-old son and 9-and-13-year-old daughters, ended up being trapped by the flames and all four died. Other members of the Vanegas family and one other family managed to escape by jumping out windows.
Lacey is being held on second degree murder charges on two theories. A spokesman for Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice told Newsday that she's charging him with four counts of depraved indifference murder and four counts of arson murder. He's scheduled to be arraigned on May 19.
