JONAS, Pa. (AP) — A 12-year-old boy was charged as an adult with homicide and arson for allegedly setting a house fire that killed his 11-year-old cousin, state police said.
Police said Djinn Buckingham told them he spilled tiki torch fuel in a hallway outside the girl's room and lit the fire with matches, according to a police affidavit. He said he thought he put the fire out, then went downstairs before hearing screams, the affidavit said.
Sierra Carranza died in the Dec. 9 fire in Polk Township, in east-central Pennsylvania. Her mother, her siblings and Buckingham escaped.
Michael Mancuso, a Monroe County assistant district attorney, said it wasn't clear why the boy allegedly started the fire, although he added that Buckingham and the girl apparently had argued earlier.