NEW ORLEANS — The girlfriend of a murder suspect now also faces charges for a New Orleans East fire that killed three children, the New Orleans DA said Thursday.
District Attorney Jason Williams said that Shanyka Phillips, 31, helped her boyfriend escape from the deadly fire that killed three of his children, ages 8, 5 and 3 in October.
The children's father, Joseph Washington, 29, was charged earlier in March with three counts of first-degree murder and obstruction of justice.
"Prosecutors learned that Phillips went to the scene of this horrible arson ... just as defendant Washington was fleeing the scene, she was observed at that crime scene by multiple witness," WIlliams said Thursday. "
Phillips has been charged with accessory to first-degree murder and aggravated arson for her alleged role in the deadly fire on the 4900 block of America Street. On Thursday, DA Williams said Phillips had been placed in NOPD custody and was awaiting arraignment.
According to Washington's own family members, Washington had been trying to run away from police after the fire.
DA Williams said that when NOPD caught up with Washington and arrested him the next day, Phillips was there with the murder suspect.
"After fleeing the scene, Washington later drove to the Westbank where Phillips, then again, was present -- picked him up, drove him away with the knowledge of what he'd just done," Williams said.
Surveillance footage had appeared to show Washington leaving the house just before the fire started at midnight.
The house on America Street where the children were killed was demolished about a week after the fire.
"There are no words for something this odious," Williams said on Thursday.