Criminal complaint shows Chesterfield house fire victim, alleged perpetrator disagreed over asset distribution

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- According to an arrest warrant and criminal complaint, 8News now knows why Chesterfield Police say they charged a 25-year-old woman with intentionally setting her own family's house on fire.

Alicia Newman is being held at the Chesterfield County Jail without bond for arson after a Saturday morning house fire on Rosegill Road.

Alicia's grandmother and great-aunt were living there -- Evelyn Newman and Hazel Johnson -- and died as a result.

According to investigators, Evelyn said her will would not gift Alicia the Rosegill Road home. Then Alicia allegedly set fire to it.

According to Alicia's criminal complaint, fire marshals found two smoke detectors inside the home disconnected from the ceiling with their batteries removed.

A fire accelerant was also found outside Evelyn's door where she and Johnson were critically injured and subsequently died at the hospital.

Early that morning, home security company Vivant received an alarm notice from Rosegill Road. When the company called the home, however, a female on the other line said all was okay and would not give her information.

The complaint goes on to say that security video shows a car leaving Newman and Johnson's house at 2:37 a.m. on Saturday. Eventually Alicia's vehicle was found going through the Midlothian Turnpike and Roanoke Street intersection in Richmond at 2:58 a.m., consistent with the time it would have taken to drive between both locations.

Court records show Alicia and her four kids had been living at the home from time to time, and the new information has neighbors shaken.

Though none wanted to talk on camera, they say it's a sad situation with horrific details as they cannot wave and say hello to the victims like they had been doing for years prior.

Alicia Newman is due back in court for a bond hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 28.