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A woman and her four-day-old newborn have died after her boyfriend allegedly strangled her and set fire to their home in New York while the child was still inside.
Kidane Haile, 30, was indicted and arraigned for second-degree murder on October 23 in Erie County after allegedly killing his girlfriend, 29-year-old Kathleen Carrig, and his infant son, Noah, according to the district attorney's office.
District Attorney Mike Keane said Haile 'is accused of intentionally killing his girlfriend prior to the fire,' and added that his office anticipates filing additional charges after further investigation.
'My thoughts remain with the family of these victims as we continue to seek answers and justice,' he said.
The fire and alleged killings took place on October 18. The Buffalo Fire Department was called to an apartment on the city's Norwood Avenue around 8.35am after receiving a report of a fire.
Inside the apartment, firefighters discovered Carrig and her newborn, who were pronounced dead at the scene.
Haile was taken to a local hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. He was discharged on October 22 and taken into police custody because investigators of the fire had quickly deemed it a 'suspicious incident.'
The Erie County Medical Examiner's Office also determined Carrig's death was a homicide caused by asphyxia due to strangulation.
At a press conference, District Attorney Keane accused Haile of strangling his girlfriend to death before using gasoline to set fire to their first-floor apartment while the infant was inside.
The specific cause of death of the four-day-old is still under investigation.
'The people intend to seek charges in respect to an additional victim in this case and intend to file a superseding indictment in the very near future,' Keane said.
Haile was a financial aid advisor at the University of Buffalo. The school released a statement after his arrest that extended condolences to those grieving and said: 'The university is aware of the serious charge against Kidane Haile.
'Although the university cannot comment on specific personnel matters, UB has a robust disciplinary process in place to address instances where an employee may have engaged in criminal activity.'
Haile is being held in the Erie County Holding Center without bail, and a return court date has not yet been scheduled. He pleaded not guilty to his charges.
If convicted, Haile faces a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
Grieving friends on social media described Carrig as a 'sweet girl' and 'a wonderful person.'
This was not the first time a child has been killed in a house fire intentionally or through negligence.
In July 2024, an Australian father was accused of barricading the doors and setting fire to his house while his seven children were inside. Four of them escaped but three died.
In 2016, a New York mother was charged with causing the death of her toddler daughter who was killed in a fire while the mother was performing at a strip club.
In 2015, a particularly disturbing case similar to Haile's alleged crimes took place. A New Jersey mother was charged with dousing her newborn daughter with accelerant and lighting her on fire.