There is an old saying that “Hurt people hurt people,” and that’s what runs through my mind every time I hear a tragic story. It’s something I empathize with but not something I have ever fully understood. That’s mostly because I think using it as a blanket statement discredits the importance of accountability. Looking at it as a reason instead of an excuse is helpful, but ultimately the bad that happens in this world boils down to a choice, and when people choose the violent, hateful path, no one wins. And there is nothing more tragic than when an innocent child is the victim of said choice.
Two young sisters, Aaliyah Robinson, 8, and Danielle Spearman, 5, in Shreveport, Louisiana, died in a house fire in October 2025 that authorities now believe was started by their own grandmother, according to Law & Crime.
Rita Ann Montgomery, 50, was recently taken into custody after a monthslong investigation. The grandmother was charged with several crimes including two counts of second-degree murder, aggravated arson, criminal conspiracy, and manufacturing and possessing a delayed-action incendiary device, the outlet reported. Authorities believe she and Alonza Cooksey, 45, are responsible for starting the house fire that killed the two innocent little girls. Both of them lived in the home with the two kids.
“These charges reflect the seriousness of this case and the gravity of the harm that it caused,” Fire Chief Clarence Reese Jr. said during a news conference. “Not only to those individuals and their family, but also to the community. I want to be very clear. This arrest is a result of a long, careful and evidence-driven investigation.”
Originally, a 15-year-old was arrested in the crime, but a grand jury ultimately did not convict him.
The Shreveport Times noted at the time of the blaze that five individuals were living in the home and the two young girls were the only ones who hadn’t escaped. The fire was determined to have begun at the front and the back of the house.
The fire chief verified that the device used to start the fire was a Molotov cocktail but said the motivations for it remain a mystery.
“This has been an incredibly complex and emotionally difficult investigation,” Reese said, per Law & Crime. “Our arson investigators have remained committed from day one to uncovering the truth and seeking justice for Aaliyah and Danielle. While nothing can undo this tragic loss, we hope these arrests provide some measure of accountability and reassurance to our community.”
