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Woman Admits to Starting the Fire She and Her Children Were Rescued From

PITTSBURGH – A woman rescued from her burning Tarentum duplex told detectives she started the blaze herself, pouring gasoline throughout the home while her children slept inside.

Allegheny County police said the Monday morning fire at 1106 Bakerstown Road was Terra M. Lynn’s failed attempt to kill herself and her children, 12-year-old Alexis and 8-year-old Tyler. She was jailed yesterday on charges including arson, endangering the welfare of a child and attempted homicide.

In a criminal complaint, detectives wrote that Ms. Lynn, 36, reeked of gasoline when they questioned her at West Penn Hospital, where she and the children were treated for smoke inhalation.

She also “admitted that she spread gasoline from a gasoline can throughout the house in attempt to burn the house down,” the complaint says.

Fire investigators also determined the fire was deliberately set and discovered an empty gasoline container in a hallway on the second floor. Their investigation showed gasoline had been poured in several places and then lit with a match or a lighter.

Candace Johnson, a basement tenant, escaped the blaze unharmed. While the house burned, she told police, Ms. Lynn told her, “What have I done?” and “I can’t do this, I can’t live like this anymore,” the complaint says.

She also told Ms. Johnson she did not “want to lose the kids.”

Police did not provide a motive for the crime in their arrest affidavit. Court documents detail a September custody dispute between Ms. Lynn and her husband, Brian S. Lynn, from whom she was separated.

“I haven’t seen my children in five weeks. … I really want to see my kids without her influence and spend time with my children,” Mr. Lynn wrote in court documents filed in September, when a judge granted Ms. Lynn interim custody of Alexis and Tyler and gave him partial custody.

Other documents show the couple were ordered to attend an educational and a mediation session.

Mr. Lynn could not be reached for comment.

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