Grand Rapids, MI – A 46-year-old Michigan mother accused of removing smoke detectors and setting her home on fire with her children inside, resulting in the death of her 12-year-old daughter, has been found competent to stand trial after previously being declared unfit twice.
The Incident: House Fire That Claimed a Child’s Life
According to investigators, Roconda Singleton, of Grand Rapids, allegedly removed all seven smoke detectors from her home, poured lighter fluid around the property, and set it ablaze while her three children were inside. The devastating fire, which occurred in January 2025, claimed the life of her daughter Shamiya Stewart, aged 12.
Police say Singleton intended to kill herself and her children in the fire. The home quickly went up in flames, requiring a response from more than 40 firefighters from 13 different departments as it spread “very rapidly,” according to local officials.
“This is a mom that meticulously took all seven of her smoke detectors and put them in a bag and removed them from the house before she poured lighter fluid all over the house and lit it on fire,” said Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom…