Woman Convicted of Murder in Fatal Fire

A suburban Boston woman has been found guilty of setting a fire that killed a 20-year-old woman.

Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley's office says 32-year-old Melissa Pfeiffer was convicted of second-degree murder and other charges Wednesday in the death of Crystal Blanchard.

Prosecutors say the Chelsea woman intentionally lit her boyfriend's clothes on fire after the two had an argument in her apartment and the boyfriend left on Dec. 24, 2010.

Conley's office says Pfeiffer left the apartment without alerting other residents or contacting the fire department.

Authorities say Blanchard and her boyfriend were trapped in their apartment. The boyfriend escaped but Blanchard died of smoke inhalation and thermal injuries.

Pfeiffer is facing life in prison with the possibility of parole when she's sentenced March 21.