A deadly blaze that engulfed a Phoenix-area sofa manufacturing business last weekend, claiming two lives, has led to the arrest of a woman on multiple charges, including first-degree murder. According to ABC15, the woman identified as Katisha Susan Smith, 44, is accused of participating in the arson at J&J Sofa Manufacturing on the night of April 27.

Investigators arrived at the scene after the local fire department had tackled the significant fire, only to discover the remains of two victims amidst the charred ruins. Surveillance footage, as detailed by Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, showed two individuals, including Smith, engaging in suspicious activity leading up to the fire. An alarming video captures a moment where an object is set ablaze and hurled onto the property, soon igniting the fatal fire, as reported by azfamily.com.

Autopsies confirmed that the victims found in the devastation were alive at the onset of the flames, compelling authorities to rule their deaths as homicides. The pursuit of justice led detectives to a nearby gas station where, the very same suspects seen on video, were pinpointed purchasing flammable materials. A distinct neck tattoo helped authorities establish Smith's identity, creating a trail that dwindled to an apartment where further evidence, including drugs and incriminating footwear, was uncovered.

According to court documents obtained by azfamily.com, Smith alleged she was "forced to participate" in the act that led to the destruction of J&J Sofa Manufacturing, and subsequent loss of life. Smith, now detained, faces grave charges that include two counts of first-degree murder, arson of an occupied structure, and drug offenses.

The community remains shaken as investigators continue to peel back layers of this tragedy, in search for a fuller narrative and motivation behind a fire that escalated into a double homicide. The identification of the second individual implicated in the crime has yet to be disclosed by law enforcement. Smith awaits her day in court, where the suffocating grip of evidence threatens to unveil the full extent of her involvement in the fiery calamity that befell J&J Sofa Manufacturing. For now, the burned remains of the building and the grievous loss etched into the Phoenix community constitute stark reminders of the harrowing event.