Man Charged With Murder For Fire That Killed 4 Relatives In Richmond: DA

RICHMOND, CA — A man has been charged with murder in connection with a fire that killed four of his family members in Richmond earlier this month, prosecutors said.

Sergio Ivan Rivera-Vega, 32, faces four counts of murder stemming from the Aug. 18 blaze that killed a 47-year-old man, a 33-year-old woman, a 5-year-old boy and a two-year-old girl, according to the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office.

Police say Rivera-Vega intentionally set fire to a home in the 200 block of 15th Street just before 9 p.m.

Fire crews were already at the scene of another fire when they noticed another home was on fire a few doors down. Inside the home, authorities found Rivera-Vega's family members unconscious.

The man died at the scene, the boy in the hospital and the woman and girl in the days that followed, according to authorities.

Police said it was suspicious given that it happened "only two houses away from the first fire and began within a short period of time while emergency personnel were still responding to the first incident."

Homicide units responded to the scene and began investigating, conducting interviews, collecting evidence and working closely with fire investigators to process the scene, police said.

During that investigation, they learned the fire was intentionally started and identified Rivera-Vega as a suspect,

Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton said in a statement that knowing Rivera-Vega is related to the victims makes the loss "even harder to comprehend."

"Our thoughts are with the family and the community affected by this tragedy," Becton said. "Just know that my office is committed to following the law and holding the suspect fully accountable."

Rivera-Vega faces life without the possibility of parole if convicted of the charges, according to authorities. He is due in court on Sept. 8 for arraignment.