A 46-year-old woman has been charged with murder and arson causing death following a fatal house fire in Melbourne’s west.
Fire swept through a Point Cook townhouse on Wednesday morning, killing Abbey Forrest, 19, Inda Sohal, 28, and newborn baby Ivy.
Jenny Hayes was arrested by detectives on Thursday morning in Airport West and later charged with three counts each of murder and arson causing death.
Hayes declined to appear in Melbourne magistrates court on Thursday night as her case was briefly mentioned.
Magistrate Luisa Bazzani questioned what the relationship was between Hayes and the family but her lawyer, Erin Byrt, said it was yet to be disclosed. Hayes is due back in court in March.
An earlier police statement said it was believed the woman was known to one of the residents of the property.
Abbey’s sister, Emily Forrest, identified the trio as the victims of the fire in a GoFundMe post to cover the costs of their funerals, describing them as “beautiful souls”.
“In the early hours of Wednesday December 2nd, a house fire in Point Cook claimed the lives of my 19yo sister, her loving partner and their almost 3 week old daughter,” she wrote.
“I’m raising money to help with the cost of funerals and memorials for all 3 of these beautiful souls who had their lives tragically cut short. Any help is greatly appreciated.”
Almost $4,000 had been donated as of Thursday afternoon.
Forrest told the Age the young family had only moved to the three-bedroom, two-storey home on Totem Way after the birth of their daughter a few weeks ago.
Detectives said on Wednesday that the townhouse was “fully engulfed” when the fire brigade arrived.
“The townhouse was raging, particularly at the front and upstairs ... [and] with accidental fires that doesn’t normally occur,” Det Sen Sgt Mark Kennedy said.
The townhouses on either side of the home were also badly damaged in the fire, which was brought under control in about an hour.
Kennedy said a neighbour made a “heroic and brave effort” to rescue the occupants with a ladder but was overwhelmed by the intensity of the flames.
“They did their best but the fire took its toll and nothing could be done,” he said.
Police said they were not looking for anyone else in relation to the matter.