Firefighters discovered a woman stabbed to death when they rushed to extinguish a blaze early Tuesday at an apartment in Daytona Beach, while her three young children were taken in critical condition to a hospital where the youngest, an infant, died.
The Daytona Beach Fire Department said crews battled the blaze at an apartment in the 1200 block of Beville Road around midnight and found one adult and three children in the home.
Authorities have not released the baby's cause of death or the type of injuries and current conditions of the two surviving kids, ages 4 and 5.
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"The next of kin has yet to be identified, so I can't give you any specifics as far as names," Chief Jakari Young said. "This is a horrific incident; we are two days out from a holiday that centers around family."
Young added that after the medical examiner arrived, they were able to determine that the mother had been stabbed multiple times.
The mother's name has not been released and police were investigating the fire as a homicide, Young said. Authorities have not named a suspect. The fire began around midnight Tuesday at the Countryside Apartments, Young said, and the infant was found in a crib near the mother.
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The State Fire Marshall has been called to investigate.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
