Woman, 46, charged with murder after family die in Melbourne house fire
A woman has been arrested and charged with murder and arson after a fatal house fire left an entire family dead.
Abbey Forrest, 19, her boyfriend Inda Sohal, 28, and their three-week-old daughter Ivy were found dead after the blaze ripped through the southwest Melbourne home on Totem Way on Wednesday morning.
Victoria police confirmed on Thursday a woman, 46, accused of killing the trio had been arrested in Airport West.
Officers said they are not looking for any other suspects in regards to what they immediately treated as a “suspicious” fire.
The intensity of the fire raised suspicions among arson and explosives squad detectives that it may have been deliberately lit.
Abbey's sister Emily visited what remains of the house on Thursday, laying flowers and a Peppa Pig doll outside.
"This should be the perfect time of their life," she told reporters on Thursday.
"Now this awful tragedy has happened."
Townhouses on either side of the home were also badly damaged in the fire, which was brought under control in about an hour.
Ms Forrest said the family was desperate to know what happened.
The young family had only moved to the three-bedroom, two-storey home on Totem Way after the birth of their daughter on November 13, Ms Forrest said.
Neighbours have recalled hearing screams and cries for help, with one said to have thrown an axe and rocks to break an upstairs window that wouldn't open.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Kennedy also said a neighbour tried to use a ladder to rescue the occupants, but was overwhelmed by the intensity of the flames.
Ms Forrest thanked them for their efforts.
"It just makes me feel at ease that there were decent people around who were trying to help her," she said.
"To risk your own life to try and help save someone in that horrible situation."
She's set up a GoFundMe page to cover funeral and memorial costs, raising more than $8000 in less than 24 hours.
With AAP
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