Mother poured lighter fluid around the home after removing the smoke detectors, then set the home on fire while her three kids were asleep inside, killing one; will go on trial
Michigan – In a disturbing case in Michigan that caught nationwide attention, a 46-year-old mother, identified as R. Singleton, was deemed competent to stand trial after being charged with multiple crimes, including murder, after she deliberately set her house on fire, resulting in the death of her 12-year-old daughter, identified as S. Stewart, and endangering her two other daughters. The mother was arrested and charged after she allegedly confessed to setting her home ablaze while her three daughters were asleep inside.
According to police reports, before starting the fire early Saturday morning, Singleton removed seven smoke detectors from the house, effectively preventing any early warning for the sleeping children. The smoke detectors were later found stuffed in a pillowcase in the backyard. According to authorities, Singleton used lighter fluid before setting the home on fire, then stood outside the residence, watching as her daughters screamed from inside the burning house. This act of arson led to the tragic death of Singleton’s eldest daughter, Stewart, who succumbed to her injuries two days later in intensive care. The other two daughters, aged 7 and 10, managed to escape; the 10-year-old helped her younger sister out of the house. Both suffered minor injuries. The surviving 10-year-old expressed her grief and disbelief to local media: “I want to say that she should be locked up for life for killing my sister. I want to know, why did she have to do that to her? She didn’t deserve that.”
Singleton was quickly taken into custody and initially charged with first-degree arson and second-degree child abuse following the incident. Following the death of her daughter, additional murder charges were filed. Police Chief E. Winstrom described the crime as “shockingly cruel, unimaginable” and confessed at a press conference that he “cannot fathom any motive.” Court documents reveal that Singleton had a history of mental health issues, having been admitted to a mental health facility in August, just a few months before the tragic incident. This aspect of her history has become a focal point in her legal proceedings.
After initially being declared incompetent to stand trial twice—first in May and again in August—Singleton was found competent in October, following a third evaluation. According to the court’s findings, she is now able to understand the nature of the charges against her, the legal process, and the possible consequences. A judge ruled she could proceed to trial, noting she is continuing to receive medication while in custody to maintain her competency. “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 in an attempt to kill her three children,” Winstrom reiterated in an updated statement. He added that Singleton had “covered the couch in lighter fluid,” emphasizing the calculated nature of the fire.
The 10-year-old daughter has been hailed as a hero for helping her siblings escape and for guiding first responders to where her sister was trapped. “We just thank God for her quick thinking,” said P. Robinson, a relative who launched a GoFundMe to support the family. The victim sustained burns on 30% of her body and severe smoke inhalation. The victim’s father described her as a “fighter” who had once spent four months in the NICU. “She [didn’t] deserve this at all,” he said through tears. “She’s my special baby… Just keep the family in prayer, please.” As the case moves toward trial, Singleton remains in custody and now faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted. The local community continues to grieve a loss that still feels too cruel to understand, watching closely as the legal process unfolds in search of accountability, healing, and justice for Stewart.
