BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) – A woman in Alabama has been arrested and charged in connection with a homicide investigation after her brother died in a house fire. The Birmingham Police Department took 32-year-old Keechaundra Deshay Cook into custody for her alleged involvement in the incident that occurred in December 2023. She is facing charges of capital murder (arson) following the death of her brother, 44-year-old Otis Jones Jr.
Authorities were called to the scene of a house fire on Westley Street just before 5 a.m. on December 28, 2023. Firefighters rescued the victim, who sustained life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital. The fire was determined to be an act of arson, and the victim, Otis Jones Jr., succumbed to his injuries on January 5, as confirmed by the Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Investigations revealed that the victim was at home with his sister, Cook, when the fire broke out. Cook was later apprehended for unrelated charges and is now set to be held in the Jefferson County Jail without bond. This incident marks the third murder investigation in Birmingham for the year 2024.
The tragic incident and subsequent arrest have left the community in shock as they mourn the loss of Otis Jones Jr. The investigation into this devastating event is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. The Birmingham Police Department is committed to seeking justice for the victim and will continue to provide updates on the case as it progresses.