Warrant: Firework Sparked Fatal Apartment Fire

18-year-old Eric Morelli has been charged in the homicide of 19-year-old Kristen Milano of Southington, Conn.

The blaze that killed 19-year-old Kristen Milano at her Southington, Connecticut, apartment earlier this summer broke out when a lit firecracker was thrown through the window, according to an arrest warrant obtained by the Record-Journal, which says Milano died of smoke inhalation.

Milano’s death was ruled a homicide, and 18-year-old Eric Morelli, a friend of her brother, has been charged with first-degree manslaughter and three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment.

Morelli told police he had plans to smoke marijuana with Jason Milano after attending a party in New Britain near Central Connecticut State University, the Record-Journal reports.

According to the warrant, Morelli allegedly drank beer and vodka at the party, then drove to the Darling Street apartment on his motorized scooter around 4:30 a.m. June 22.

Morelli told police he could see Jason Milano sleeping on the couch, but called his name and couldn't wake him. He then retrieved fireworks from his moped and began throwing them at the apartment, the warrant says. The first two bounced off the window, but the third landed inside.

Neighbors said they heard a hissing noise before the fire alarm sounded, then saw flames pouring from a bedroom window. One resident told police she saw a person matching Morelli’s description shortly before the fire broke out, according to the warrant.

Investigators later found fireworks near the apartment window, the warrant says, at least one of which appeared to have gone off.

The Milanos’ aunt, Diane Goodrich, told police she woke up to the fire alarm and saw flames on a pillow in Jason Milano’s second-story bedroom, the warrant says.

“I couldn’t believe how fast the fire spread,” the warrant quotes her as saying. “It was almost as if gasoline was on the bed.”

She doused the flames, to no avail, then woke her nephew and ran outside, the warrant states. Jason Milano told police he tried to get back in to see if anyone else was inside, but the smoke was too thick and he turned around.

Goodrich told authorities everyone was out of the building, according to the warrant.

She was wrong. Kristen Milano had been sleeping on the second floor. Firefighters found her body while searching the apartment. She was identified by her tattoos, the warrant says.

Morelli told police he went home after failing to wake his friend. He didn’t know Kristen Milano had died in the blaze and started to cry when police told him, according to the warrant.

The family of Kristen Milano is planning to sue the town, citing negligence on the part of the fire department.

Morelli is due back in court Sept. 4.

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