Woman Charged With Capital Murder Of Siblings In Boarding Home Fire Near USC

EXPOSITION PARK (CBSLA) – A Los Angeles woman was charged Thursday with murdering an adult brother and sister at a boarding home near the University of Southern California last week, prosecutors said.

Khala Swasey, 24, was charged with two counts of murder with the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder in the commission of an arson, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. She is expected to be arraigned Thursday afternoon.

On Aug. 22, a man and woman - whom prosecutors now say are brother and sister - died in an early morning fire at a two-story house in the 1000 block of West Leighton Avenue in Exposition Park. Sixteen people, including four children, were inside when the fire broke out.

George Hills, 66, and his 53-year-old sister, Yolanda McGruder, died as a result of the fire at the residence, where Swasey also once lived, according to prosecutors.

Investigators say at some point, Swasey was kicked out of the boarding home and then returned to the property, broke into the house, and started the fire.

Police also made an arrest in a second fatal fire that killed a homeless man Monday in downtown L.A.'s Skid Row when his tent was set on fire. A 38-year-old man, Jonathan Early, was later arrested on murder charges, accused of intentionally setting the blaze.

On Aug. 24, a man was arrested on allegations he sparked a series of at least 11 fires in a Studio City neighborhood that same morning. No one was hurt in those fires.