A Kansas City woman who already was charged with setting a fire in her nail salon in northeast Kansas City now faces additional charges in connection with the October 2015 fire that resulted in the deaths of two firefighters and the injuring of two others, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced Friday.
According to a news release, 43-year-old Thu Hong Nguyen now faces the felony of causing catastrophe and two counts of second-degree assault for the injured firefighters. She already faced two counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of Larry Leggio and John Mesh and one count of first-degree arson. The additional charges were part of an indictment, released Friday and issued this week by a Jackson County grand jury.
According to court records, an ATF special agent with experience in investigating numerous fires stated that two firefighters suffered serious physical injury in addition to the two firefighters who lost their lives. In addition, the special agent stated probable cause exists that the defendant set the fire and caused substantial damage to five or more inhabitable structures or buildings, including a 16-unit apartment building, placing persons in close proximity in danger of death or injury.
Nguyen remains in custody on a $2 million cash bond.
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