‘Unimaginable’: Girl, 12, Dies After Mom Removed Smoke Detectors & Set House On Fire

A Michigan mother reportedly committed a crime so horrific that police called it unimaginable. On January 25, 2025, Roconda Singleton, 46, allegedly intentionally set her home on fire. Sadly, her three daughters, aged 12, 10, and 7, were inside.

The two younger girls got out safely, but her eldest daughter, Shamiya Stewart, suffered serious burns and died from her injuries. Police said the mother knew exactly what she was doing.

“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,” Grand Rapids Police Department Chief Eric Winstrom said at a news conference.

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According to Winstrom, a witness called 911 for help, reporting they saw a home on fire at the corner of Eastern Avenue SE and Alexander Street SE around 7:30 a.m. When crews arrived, they reportedly found Singleton outside the house. According to court documents local news station WOOD obtained, the mother of three told police, “I did it. I am not going to sit here and play like I am the victim.”

Her 10-year-old daughter told the news station she wanted her mother punished. “She should be locked up for life for killing my sister,” she said. “I want to know, why did she have to do that to her? She didn’t deserve that.”

Police reportedly found a teal pillowcase in the backyard that contained seven fire alarms going off, WOOD reported.

During an interview at police headquarters, the mother said she didn’t know what happened, per court documents, but then allegedly admitted to starting the fire.

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“Singleton said her intentions today were ‘to die with her three daughters so they could be free,'” the document reads.

WOOD reported that Singleton suffered from mental illness and was paranoid that the government was watching her.

“She presents as disorganized with pressured and rapid speech. She has no insight into her illness and has declined medications thus far,” a caseworker reportedly wrote.

Singleton faces up to life in prison if convicted of the murder and arson charges. She is currently in jail on $500,000 bond and is due in court on February 11.

Patricia Robinson created a GoFundMe for Shamiya’s father, Lyn O’Brian Stewart. She explained Lyn O’Brian Stewart received a call “no parent ever wants to receive.”

Robinson wrote, “Shamiya suffered burns on over 30% of her body. Shamiya was a fighter from the day she was born and fought to the very end. Shamiya was born weighing less than two pounds and spent the first four months of her life in the NICU. She grew to be a loving young lady who loved music, loved to dance, and loved her electronics. Shamiya also loved her dad and her siblings. She was truly a daddy’s girl.”

A donor wrote: “Lyn, Cherish & family, I’ve thought about you all over the years since Cherish was one of my favorite pre-k students. My prayers are with you all.”

“Praying for your family’s healing and recovery from this traumatic experience and loss,” another shared.

The fundraiser has brought in nearly $19,000 of a $20,000 goal to aid with final expenses.