A tragic Pennsylvania apartment fire has resulted in the deaths of three young children after authorities alleged that their mother left them locked inside the residence unattended.
Police identified the mother as 22-year-old Danozjna Shalita. Investigators say she left her 5-year-old son, 3-year-old daughter, and 5-month-old baby girl alone inside the apartment before driving away in her Dodge Charger.
According to authorities, the children had reportedly been barricaded inside a bedroom. Investigators allege that a couch was placed against the door while a mattress blocked the staircase, restricting movement inside the home.
The fatal fire reportedly occurred while Shalita was away from the residence. Police said the woman later received a call from her landlord informing her that the apartment was on fire, but she allegedly disconnected the call and returned to the scene about 20 minutes later.
During questioning, Shalita reportedly claimed she had been shopping at Walmart at the time of the blaze. However, investigators said surveillance footage from two separate Walmart locations did not place her at either store.
Authorities also examined cellphone records, which allegedly showed that she had been communicating with her jailed boyfriend and arranging a drug transaction on his behalf.
The three children died in the fire.
Shalita has since been arrested and charged with third-degree murder, aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, and recklessly endangering another person.
