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Woman Trapped In Fire Has Died

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TBO.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 10, 2008

One of three people trapped by burglar bars in a house fire Monday has died, officials say.

Latoya Williams-Jones, 26, died late Monday at Tampa General Hospital, Tampa Fire Rescue said. She is the fifth person to die in connection with a fire in Tampa this year, he said.

The other two victims of the fire are Williams-Jones' grandparents. Willie Bynes, 69, remains at Tampa General Hospital. He was listed in critical condition Monday. Mary Jones Bynes, 73, was listed in serious condition at St. Joseph's Hospital. The fire department did not have an update on their conditions.

Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Bill Wade said a space heater placed too close to a couch started the fire about 6:30 a.m. Monday at 2905 Chipco St. None of the smoke alarms inside the house had batteries, he said. Neighbors tried to help them escape but were unable to remove burglar bars from the windows. They were rescued after firefighters arrived.

Man Accused Of Killing Roommate

A man accused Tuesday of strangling his roommate during an argument over cigarettes has been arrested.
Tampa police charged Billy Locke Jr., 30, with felony second-degree murder Tuesday in the death of Rick Lamar Ming, 43. They shared an apartment at 3712 W. Cass St.

About 8 a.m., Locke called 911 to report that he thought his roommate was dead, police said. He told officers he had put Ming into a chokehold during an argument over cigarettes, according to police.

Locke is being held without bail at Orient Road Jail.

Barrier Being Set On I-75 South

A temporary barrier will be installed today and Thursday on southbound I-75 near the site of a crash Tuesday where a dump truck hit the concrete beams that support the overpass at Exit 301 in Hernando County. All southbound lanes of the highway are expected to be open Thursday, the Florida Department of Transportation said.

All lanes of S.R. 50 will reopen once the demolition and repair of the damaged sections are complete, expected to be at least three weeks.

Children Home Alone, Police Say

A Palm Harbor woman was arrested Monday afternoon on charges she left her four daughters, ages 6 to 12, alone for two days while she went to break up with a boyfriend, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Mary Jackson, 30, was charged with four counts of child neglect, according to jail records. She was held at Pinellas County Jail and was released Tuesday night, jail records show.

A staff report

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