A baby, a man and a woman were found dead Tuesday night inside a Woodland Acres home after a Christmas tree caught fire, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said.
The Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department first responded just before 8:30 p.m. to a blaze inside a home on India Avenue, south of the Arlington Expressway.
Fire Rescue found three bodies inside, and discovered that a Christmas tree had caught fire and burned, according to JSO. Homicide detectives were then called to investigate.
Sheriff's Office Sgt. David Smith said there didn't appear to be forced entry to the home, but foul play is suspected.
Smith said the smoke and soot inside was making it difficult to look around the home. The fire marshal also responded to the scene.
Police have not yet identified the two adults and toddler found dead. Family members told our News4Jax partner that the woman was Ariyan Johnson and the man, Quasean Trotter was the father of their little girl, Aeriel.
"What is my cousin supposed to do now that her daughter and her granddaughter is gone today? How does she, her sons, his sisters and brothers, that her daughter is not coming home? How do we go about Christmas and we don't have her," said Latavia Harris, a family member. "It's ridiculous that these cowards are killing babies. She's not even one. You didn't even have to do that. You didn't have to do that to Aeriel."
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
