Philadelphia, PA – June 30, 2025 A devastating house fire that claimed the lives of a pregnant mother and her two small children has now led to murder charges against two suspects, according to the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD).
On Wednesday, June 25, authorities arrested Charles Sumpter, 67, and Fleitte Newell, 44, in connection with the June 13 arson that killed 31-year-old Ashley Thompson, her 6-year-old son Assad Thompson, and 4-year-old daughter Alaya Thompson-Newell. The victims perished after a fire broke out in their rowhouse located in the 2500 block of N. Corlies Street, in Philadelphia’s Strawberry Mansion neighborhood.
Firefighters arrived on the scene just before 5 a.m., where the home was found fully engulfed in flames. According to officials, five individuals were inside the residence when the fire broke out. Ashley Thompson was found deceased on the second floor. Her two young children were rushed to the hospital but tragically died from their injuries.
Ashley was reported to be seven months pregnant at the time of her death, making this tragedy even more heart-wrenching. A family member described her as “a loving mother, daughter, and friend,” adding that “her children were her joy, her purpose, and the light of so many lives around them.”
A third child and a 54-year-old woman, later identified as Sherry Jackson, managed to escape the fire. Jackson is the sister of Fleitte Newell, one of the two suspects now charged. She later told NBC 10 that she had been engaged in an ongoing dispute with Newell over the property and claimed Newell had previously threatened to burn the house down with her in it. Despite reporting the threat, no protective action had reportedly been taken.
Both Sumpter and Newell were interviewed on the day of the fire but were not immediately taken into custody. Arrest warrants were issued and executed on June 25, resulting in their formal arrest and charging.
The two now face multiple counts of murder, arson, and related offenses.
This horrific incident has deeply shaken the Philadelphia community. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help support the grieving family and honor the lives of Ashley and her children.
As the investigation continues, the family and community are left mourning an unimaginable loss — a young mother full of love, her two bright children, and the life she was preparing to bring into the world.
