Mother charged in child fire death
MILWAUKEE — The mother of a baby girl who died after a fire near 28th and Meinecke has now been formally charged. 1-year-old Quamyiia Owens, who just celebrated her first birthday in December, died at the hospital Sunday, Feb. 11 after the fire Saturday, Feb. 10 prosecutors say was sparked by Owens’ brother, after three children were left home alone.
Quintella Owens, 31, of Milwaukee faces three charges:
Child neglect, resulting in death, as party to a crime
Child neglect, misdemeanor, as party to a crime — two counts
According to a criminal complaint, on Saturday, Feb. 10, a witness was driving by the area near 28th and Meinecke when she spotted a woman who was “screaming for someone to call 911,” as there was a home on fire and a small child trapped inside.
Police responded around 9:45 p.m., and firefighters were already on scene.
The complaint says an officer saw smoke billowing from the home, and the entire back lower portion was engulfed in flames. After several minutes, a firefighter was observed with a the body of a small, lifeless child rushing from the home. The child, Quamyiia Owens, age 1, was taken to Children’s Hospital.
