Cicero Landlord Convicted Of Murder In Fire Deaths
CHICAGO (AP)--A suburban Chicago landlord has been found guilty of seven counts of first-degree murder in the deaths resulting from a Valentine's Day 2010 arson fire.
Lawrence Myers on Monday was also found guilty of aggravated arson for hiring his building manager, Marion Andre Comier, to set fire to a Cicero building to collect $250,000 in insurance money.
The victims ranged in ages 20 years to a 3-day-old infant.
During Myers' trial, the jury heard audio recordings of conversations between Myers and a friend. He allegedly talks about the scheme, saying he would have set the fire himself "in the afternoon, just before the kids got back from school."
Cook County jurors also heard from Bonita Robertson and her cousin, Brian Trent. They testified Meyers asked Trent to torch the building.
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