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Arrest Made In Fatal Stone Mtn. House Fire

Joyce Turnipseed Charged With Arson, Homicide

POSTED: 9:37 pm EST February 9, 2010
UPDATED: 6:35 pm EST February 10, 2010

DeKalb County police made an arrest Wednesday afternoon in the Stone Mountain fire that killed two people at a house that was allgedly an illegal personal care home Tuesday night.

Officers arrested Joyce Turnipseed, 26, and charged her with first-degree arson and two counts of homicide. Investigators said she lived in the personal care home.

Two people died and four others were injured as the result of the fire that started around 9:00 p.m. Tuesday in the home on Autumn Woods Court.

The home had served special-needs people. Authorities said seven or eight people lived at the home.

But Wednesday, a press release from the state Department of Community Health said it was investigating whether the owner was operating the home without a license.

The statement said that the agency was working with Dekalb County fire officials to locate all residents that were in living in the home to assure they have safe and adequate living arrangements.

The agency reminded residents to make sure that a facility they are interested in is properly licensed in the state of Georgia. To find a licensed and regulated facility, visit www.dch.georgia.gov.

Earlier Wednesday, family members identified one of the victims as Cong Nguyen, 40.

His brother, who said his name was also Cong, said "We loved him so much."

He said Nguyen and the second victim were friends.

"He and Timothy were best friends, so we really loved both of them," the brother said.

The name of the second victim was expected to be released Wednesday afternoon, accoridng to DeKalb County fire officials.

Most of the injured were treated at the scene, but one woman is in critical condition at Grady Memorial Hospital.

"The fire was just coming up. I mean the door was just engulfed in flames," said neighbor Stephanie Wederburn.

"I jumped out the window when the house was on fire," said resident Michael Carson.

Investigators were back on the scene Wednesday trying to figure out how the fire started. A source told CBS Atlanta News that a resident started the fire.

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