Grand jury to probe sisters' deaths in South Boston fire
By Maria Cramer, Globe Staff
A grand jury investigation has begun into the South Boston fire earlier this month that killed two young sisters, prosecutors said.
Acia Johnson, 14, and Sophia Johnson, 2, died of smoke inhalation and thermal injuries in the April 6 fire that destroyed their home on West Sixth Street, police said today. Their deaths were ruled homicides.
"We'll be presenting evidence to that grand jury," said Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.
"We hope to get at the truth and determine who is responsible for the deaths of these two young innocent children."
The grand jury convened yesterday, Conley said. He declined to identify any suspects in the case.
Two city officials briefed on the probe have told the Globe that investigators believe someone used an accelerant and set the home on fire about 3 a.m. The girls were found trapped under debris in a rear upper room and taken to Boston Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead.
The girls’ mother, Anna Reisopoulos, suffered serious injuries in the fire. The Globe has reported that the Department of Social Services had received a dozen reports of child neglect and abuse in the family and had removed Acia Johnson and her twin brother, Raymond, from the home in 2003. But friends, neighbors, and school officials said the children continued to live with Reisopoulos, and DSS continued to receive reports of neglect.
Anyone with information about the blaze is urged to contact the Homicide Unit at (617) 343-4470 or the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 800-494-TIPS.
