Minneapolis, MN (MinnesotaNow) – A Minneapolis woman is scheduled to be sentenced in December for an arson fire that left two people dead.
Arson Investigation Leads to Murder Conviction
According to court documents, 36-year-old Deonna Marie Presbury recently pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder. Under the terms of her plea agreement, three counts of first-degree arson were dismissed.
Minneapolis Woman Accused of Starting Two Fires
The criminal complaint alleged that Presbury started two fires inside a Minneapolis apartment building on the night of August 13, 2024. The court document says fire investigators identified two separate points of origin.
Stairwell Fire Quickly Spread to the Upper Floors
One fire started outside a second-floor apartment, where a pair of pink rollerblades was on the floor near a bicycle. The other fire originated in a rear stairway on the building’s second level. According to the criminal complaint, the location of the second fire allowed the flames to spread quickly to the building’s upper floors and roof.
Argument Preceded Fires
The charging document says a witness reported arguing with Presbury over the bicycle and the rollerblades moments before the fires started. Two other witnesses told investigators they heard Presbury threatening to start a fire. One witness also reported smelling smoke in the hallway just minutes after Presbury left with her daughter…