Arson Investigation Pressed as 3 Victims Fight for Lives

Three critically burned family members, including a 5-day-old girl and her 2-year-old brother, continued to fight for their lives Monday as shaken investigators searched for the arsonist who torched their Hawthorne apartment Saturday night.

The older child, Robert Davis, was listed in extremely critical condition Monday at County-USC Medical Center’s burn ward, with second- and third-degree burns over 88% of his body. His infant sister, Shartesia Williams, and their mother, Valerie Rivers, 20, were in critical condition at Torrance Memorial Medical Center with burns over about 50% of their bodies, according to Hawthorne fire officials.

All were burned when, in a crime that stunned police and arson investigators, someone poured a flammable liquid around the bedroom of their 116th Street apartment and set it afire.

“I’ve been a policeman for over 14 years, and this is one of the worst things I’ve ever seen,� said Hawthorne Detective Don Rabas, who is investigating the crime. “Who would want to burn a baby?�

Rabas and other investigators said late Monday that they were seeking one or two suspects but declined to elaborate.

“We’d really like to get this guy,� said Hawthorne Police Sgt. Bob Sanders.

Authorities were alerted when a neighbor in the 4900 block of 116th Street called 911 and reported the apartment on fire. When the first firefighters arrived two minutes later, much of the apartment was already in flames, Battalion Chief Dave Beichner said.

While the first firefighters awaited pumper trucks, Rivers apparently rushed from the bedroom into the apartment’s bathroom in an effort to extinguish her burning clothes, and then broke a window to escape, police and fire officials said.

As the mother was being pulled through the window, two firefighters entered the burning bedroom and carried the children outside.

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Arson investigators quickly determined that the fire had been started with a flammable liquid outside the bedroom.

“There were accelerants used, and that’s what made it such a dangerous fire,� Beichner said.

Police officials said they were investigating a possible motive for the attack, but declined to discuss details. They also said public outrage may help speed their investigation.

“I’ve had officers from other departments calling me at home (with tips),� Rabas said.