40°
Yvonne Ngoiri, 39, of Worcester, pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree murder and several other serious charges related to the 2022 blaze that tore through a triple-decker apartment building at 2 Gage St., the Worcester County District Attorney's Office said. She will be eligible for parole after serving 20 years.
Worcester firefighters were called to the home around 3:30 a.m. on May 14, 2022. Flames quickly engulfed the building, trapping multiple people inside.
Four men — Joseph Garchali, 47, Christopher Lozeau, 53, Vincent Page, 41, and Marcel Fontaine, 29 — died from smoke inhalation and burns, the prosecutor said. Two people were hospitalized for smoke inhalation, and a third was seriously injured after jumping from a window to escape the flames.
A nearby home on Eastern Avenue was also damaged during the blaze.
Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said he hopes the verdict provides the community with a sense of resolution.
“We hope this result brings a measure of justice to the four families who lost a loved one, the three people who were injured, and the many others who lost their homes and belongings in this tragic fire,” he said.
Investigators determined the fire was intentionally set at the rear of the Gage Street property. Ngoiri, a former resident of the apartments, has been in custody since her arrest on Sept. 29, 2022. It's unclear why she sparked the blaze.
In addition to her life sentences, Ngoiri was sentenced to 18 to 20 years for arson, 14 to 15 years for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, and 9 to 10 years for two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, the prosecutor said.
All sentences will be served concurrently, meaning Ngoiri will serve them at the same time.
Mohamed "Joseph" Garchali was a father of four. Christopher Lozeau, a dad of two sons, was celebrating his birthday on the day of the blaze. Vincent Page left behind three daughters. Marcel Fontaine was a kind and supportive son and brother known for his love of music, his family said.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Worcester and receive free news updates.
