A man accused of starting a fire that killed three young sisters and a neighbor has died while in Cook County Jail awaiting trial.
Reginald Hester, 53, had been terminally ill and had been transferred days ago to Stroger Hospital, where he died Tuesday night, according to Cara Smith, chief policy officer for the Cook County sheriff’s office.
He was facing trial on four counts of first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated arson and bodily harm stemming from the fire in August of 2016 in the 8100 block of South Essex Avenue in the South Chicago neighborhood.
Hester had confessed to starting the fire at two spots in the courtyard apartment building early in the morning of Aug. 23 after a woman who lived there agreed to have sex for $10, took his money and reneged on the deal, according to prosecutors..
Three sisters — 3-month-old Melanie Watson, 4-year-old Madison Watson and 7-year-old Shaniya Staples — and a next-door neighbor, Kirk Johnson, 56, died when the fire spread quickly through the two top floors of the building, officials said.
Intense flames and heavy smoke kept firefighters from getting inside and trapped many residents in their apartments. At least two stairwells caught fire. Several people jumped from windows while others were rescued by firefighters on ladders.
Melanie died when her father, Michael Watson, jumped from the third-floor window with the girl in her arms, according to family and fire officials. The two other girls were found dead in the hallway and living room, and Johnson was found dead inside his apartment.
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