Milwaukee man charged with arson and homicide in pregnant girlfriend's death

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A 21-year-old Milwaukee man has been charged with arson and two counts of first-degree reckless homicide after a house fire that killed his 22-year-old pregnant girlfriend and their unborn child. Authorities say the woman, Gladys Johnson-Ball, died of asphyxiation and was around 3-5 months pregnant at the time.

Why it matters

This tragic case highlights the ongoing issue of domestic violence against pregnant women, which is a leading cause of death for expectant mothers. It underscores the need for stronger protections and support systems to keep all mothers and their unborn children safe.

The details

According to the criminal complaint, Washington and Johnson-Ball were in a relationship and had a 3-year-old daughter together. On the day of the incident, family members became concerned when they hadn't seen Johnson-Ball and found Washington refusing to let them enter the bedroom. When the mother went in, she found Johnson-Ball unconscious with bruising and blood. Washington was caught trying to flee the scene, and a lighter was found in his pocket, leading to the arson charges.

• On January 5, authorities were called to a house fire near North 26th Street and West Hadley Street in Milwaukee.
• Gladys Johnson-Ball, 22, was found unconscious on a mattress in a burning second-floor bedroom and pronounced dead at the scene.

What’s next

If found guilty, Washington could be sentenced to decades in prison with hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.