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Anita Alvarez
Cook County State's Attorney
Communications Department
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 603-3423
saomedia@cookcountygov.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 5, 2010

The owner of a Cicero apartment building and the building’s manager have been charged with multiple counts of arson and first degree murder for allegedly setting a fire that killed seven in a scheme prosecutors say was an attempt to cash in on the property’s insurance policy, State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez announced today.  

Lawrence Myers, 60, of 3217 S. 50th Avenue, Cicero, and Marion (Andre) Comier, 47, of 5300 W. 30th Place, Cicero, have each been charged with seven counts of first degree murder and two counts of aggravated arson in connection with the deadly fire. The seven victims were all age 20 or under and included 16-year-old twin siblings, a three-year-old toddler and a newborn baby just three days old.  

“As prosecutors we see violence rise up in many ways and in many forms in our communities, but the particular type of evil associated with a crime like this is almost unspeakable,” Alvarez said.  “The sheer greed alone is difficult enough to understand, but the inhumanity of this crime is almost beyond comprehension.” 

Killed in the fire were Byron Reed, 20; Sallie Gist, 18; their sons, Rayshawn Reed, 3, and Brian Reed, 3 days old; Gist’s 16-year-old twin siblings, Elijah and Elisha Gist, and family friend Tiera Davidson, 18. Three Cicero firefighters were also injured battling the blaze. 

The fire occurred on February 14 – a Sunday morning -- at approximately 6:30 am in a two-story apartment building located at 3034 S. 48th Court in Cicero.  According to prosecutors, Myers executed the plan to set the fire in an attempt to collect on an insurance policy that he held on the building, valued in excess of $250,000.  Myers enlisted the aid of Comier, who worked for him as the building manager or maintenance man. 

According to prosecutors, the fire was intentionally set on the back porch of the first floor at the rear of the building. The building had two two-bedroom apartments and two three-bedroom apartments. 

The first floor rear apartment was the only one that was vacant and not occupied by tenants when the fire was set.  Fire investigators said the blaze spread quickly through the frame building, causing the roof to collapse and spreading to the second floor attic where the victims were sleeping.   

According to prosecutors, there was only one exit from the second floor attic and the victims were quickly trapped as the fire raged up the stair well and closed off the only exit. According to prosecutors, the victims died from carbon monoxide intoxication due to smoke inhalation.

The Cook County State’s Attorney Office began working with Cicero police and fire officials shortly after the fire after they developed information that the fire was intentionally set.   

State’s Attorney Alvarez thanked the Cicero Police and Fire Departments for their assistance and cooperation in the investigation. She also thanked the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and the Office of the State Fire Marshal for their assistance.

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