9-Year-Old Sets House Fire That Kills Five Family Members, But His Mom Says She Forgives Him

A 9-year-old boy has been charged with deliberately setting a house fire, killing five people, including three young children.

The fire occurred on April 6 at the Timberline Mobile Home Park in Illinois, killing Kathryn Murray, 69; Jason Wall, 34; Rose Alwood, 2; Daemeon Wall, 2; and Ariel Wall, 1.

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9-Year-Old Boy Sets House Fire That Kills 5 Family Members

The juvenile, whose name has not been released, was charged last week with five counts of first-degree murder, two counts of arson and one count of aggravated arson, according to Woodford Country State’s Attorney Greg Minger.

Minger told the Journal Star that charging the boy was a “heavy decision.” He told the paper, “It’s a tragedy, but at the end of the day it’s charging a very young person with one of the most serious crimes we have.”

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The boy has ADHD, bipolar disorder and a type of schizophrenia, his mother told CBS News.

“Everyone is looking at him like he’s some kind of monster, but that’s not who he is,” his mother said. “People make mistakes, and that’s what this is. Yes, it was a horrible tragedy, but it’s still not something to throw his life away over.”

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His mom, who lost her two children, grandmother and niece, told the outlet, “I did lose, you know, my family too. But I forgive him. I love him no matter what.”

If the boy is convicted, he faces five years of probation.

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