A West Virginia man has been charged with two murders related to a fire he allegedly set in his home earlier this month.
Britney Brown, 34, and her mother, 57-year-old Erma Brown, were killed in a fire in a Wayne County, W. Va., home in a suspected arson on Dec. 15, the West Virginia State Police said in a statement.
Police did not name the victims, but they were identified in a GoFundMe by their family, as well as several news outlets including FOX 11, WSAZand MetroNews.
A 15-month-old child was briefly missing from the residence, but has since been found safe, per police, FOX 11 and WSAZ reported.
Police have arrested Joshua Russell Morrow, 42, in connection with the killings and arson, per their statement. A criminal complaint obtained by FOX 11 and WSAZ alleges the remains of Britney and Erma were found in Morrow’s home.
Both women appeared to have been stabbed multiple times, authorities said and the local medical examiner’s office confirmed, per FOX 11, WSAZ and MetroNews.
Joshua Russell Morrow.
West Virginia State Police
Morrow could be seen on security footage entering the residence on the evening of Dec. 15, and leaving a short time later, per the complaint, FOX 11 reported. Soon thereafter, the house appeared to have a glow of light around it, “indicative of the increasing intensity of the structure fire,” the complaint stated.
About an hour later, Morrow allegedly dropped the 15-month-old child, whom he shared with Britney, at a residence in Hamlin, about 30 minutes from the location of the killings, per the complaint; he allegedly asked the residents to take care of the child.
The child’s disappearance sparked an Amber Alert, but she was located the next day in Hamlin, FOX 11 and WSAZ reported.
A GoFundMe set up by Britney’s brother claims Morrow was her fiancé. The family is seeking help covering cremation and funeral costs, as well as a trust fund for Britney’s two daughters.
Morrow is charged with two counts of first and second degree murder and one count of first-degree arson, per court records reviewed by PEOPLE. He is being held on $500,000 bond; plea and attorney information were not available in court records.
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