A firefighter with a past arson conviction is now charged with double murder after allegedly killing two elderly sisters in a fire at their Hollywood home. This tragic event unfolded after one sister tried to rescue her sibling amidst the inferno.
Jovan Duverne, 39, is accused of igniting the fire at the residence of Maria “Cello” Vasquez, 76, and Yolanda “Yola” Honda, 82, around 2 a.m. on February 4, as stated by prosecutors.
The sisters’ families shared on a GoFundMe that neighbors witnessed Vasquez briefly escape the flames, telling them they had to save Honda before rushing back inside.
Her last words reportedly were, “I need to go back to get my sister,” according to the family’s fundraising page.
Honda perished at the scene, while Vasquez was taken to Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital, where she later died.
This deadly fire, which occurred just a block away from the Hollywood Walk of Fame, required 40 firefighters about 20 minutes to extinguish.
At the time of the blaze, Honda was recovering from hip surgery, and her sister had moved in to provide care, ensuring she was safe, nourished, and loved each day, as mentioned in the family’s GoFundMe.
Unfortunately, the family couldn’t find Honda’s cherished dog, Coco, who went missing during the chaos.
Prosecutors noted that Duverne used a handheld torch to ignite ten fires in Hollywood from January 26 to February 4, resulting in damage to bus benches, trash cans, and piles of refuse at local encampments.
He faces two counts of murder and eleven counts of felony arson and is being held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, with an arraignment scheduled for April 8.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman criticized Duverne’s reckless actions, saying they displayed an alarming disregard for life. He stated, “Starting fires anywhere is reckless and extremely dangerous, but intentionally starting multiple fires in a residential area shows a shocking disregard for human life.”
Shortly after the fire was set, police apprehended Duverne just a few blocks from the scene.
According to court records, Duverne has a troubling history with at least six felony convictions dating back a decade. His record includes multiple felony vandalism charges, resisting an officer, and a felony arson conviction in 2015.
If found guilty, he could face the death penalty or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
