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A man suspected of being a serial arsonist has been formally charged following a tragic house fire in Los Angeles that resulted in the deaths of two sisters.
Jovan Lamar Duverne faces two murder charges along with 11 counts of felony arson. These charges stem from a series of fires he is accused of igniting throughout Hollywood earlier this year, as detailed in a statement by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Duverne allegedly targeted 10 different locations in Hollywood between January 26 and February 4, reportedly using a handheld torch-style lighter to start the blazes.
Prosecutors claim that he moved between locations, setting fire to rubbish and attempting to break into buildings.
One particularly devastating incident occurred on February 4, when Duverne allegedly set a house on fire around 2 a.m. This blaze tragically resulted in the deaths of sisters Maria “Chelo” Del Consuelo Alarcon-Valdez, aged 76, and Yolanda “Yola” Honda, aged 82.
In one instance on Feb. 4, prosecutors alleged that Duverne set a home ablaze around 2 a.m., leading to the deaths of Maria “Chelo” Del Consuelo Alarcon-Valdez, 76, and Yolanda “Yola” Honda, 82.
According to an account from the family, Alarcon-Valdez had been recovering from an emergency hip surgery at the time and Honda had moved in with her to help with her care.
“In the early morning hours of the fire, as flames engulfed the home, Chelo was briefly seen on the porch,” their family wrote on GoFundMe. “Her final words to a neighbor were a testament to her heart: ‘I need to go back and get my sister.’ Neither emerged from the house.”
While Alarcon-Valdez passed away at the scene, her sister suffered a cardiac arrest and later died at a hospital, according to the family.
“This home was not just a house. It was the heart of our family and the realization of the American dream for a young family that migrated from Mexico decades ago,” the fundraiser noted. “It was shared by seven siblings and two generations of children and family. It was a sanctuary where multiple generations gathered to celebrate.”
Prosecutor Calls Jovan Lamar Duverne’s Alleged Actions “Extraordinarily Dangerous”
Prosecutors said Duverne was arrested later that day near Hollywood Boulevard and Wilton Place.
In addition to the charges against him, he is also facing a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, in addition to sentence enhancements for a prior arson conviction and second-strike allegation, prosecutors said. If convicted, he could face life in prison or death.
Prosecutors plan to determine whether they will seek the death penalty at a later date.
“Setting fires anywhere is reckless and extraordinarily dangerous, but deliberately igniting multiple fires in a residential community shows a shocking disregard for human life,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in the statement. “We allege this defendant went on a dangerous arson spree across Hollywood that ultimately claimed the lives of two elderly sisters inside their home. Our hearts are with their loved ones as they mourn this devastating loss. When someone sets fires that endanger lives and destroy a community’s sense of safety, my office will pursue the most serious charges available and seek justice for the victims.”
He is currently being held without bail. His next court date is scheduled for April 8, according to jail records reviewed by Oxygen. It’s unclear whether Duverne has retained an attorney. Oxygen reached out to the Los Angeles County Public Defender, but did not receive an immediate reply.