Woman charged in motel fire that killed 5 in June

RIVERDALE - A 45-year-old Riverdale woman was arrested late Friday night and charged with arson and felony murder in the June 7 fire in the Budget Inn that killed five people, four in one family.

Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John Oxendine identified her as Sherce Dionne Murphy, who went by the street name of Queen.

She is charged with one count of first degree arson, five counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault and one count of simple battery.

Oxendine said he and Riverdale Fire Chief Billy Hayes promised themselves they would bring justice to the family of four and a boyfriend of one who died in the fire.

Oxendine said, ``It took us a long time to do this and we have suspected Queen for some time, We wanted to make sure we had a strong case for the DA. Having a suspicion does not get somebody convicted.''

Killed in the blaze were: 32-year-old Shakita Jones; her children Devon Butler and Desha Butler; her 26-year-old fiance Fred Colston Junior, and her 43-year-old uncle Melvin Jones. Three other residents and three firefighters were injured in the fire.