A man has been charged with killing his girlfriend and setting their residence on fire while she and their newborn baby were inside. Kidane Haile, aged 30, faced accusations of second-degree murder in relation to the deaths of Kathleen “Katie” Carrig, 29, and their four-day-old son, Noah.
The tragic incident occurred at 8:35 a.m. on October 18 when firefighters were called to the couple’s apartment due to a fire. Upon arrival, responders found Katie and baby Noah unconscious in the house. Sadly, both mother and son were declared deceased at the scene.
Prosecutors claimed that Haile had strangled Katie before igniting the fire. He was rescued from the burning building and taken to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation, where he remained under care for several days.
After being discharged, Haile, a college financial aid advisor at the University at Buffalo, was charged with second-degree murder and remanded without bail at his arraignment. The Medical Examiner determined Katie’s death as a homicide by asphyxiation from strangulation. The cause of Noah’s death is still being investigated, with authorities hinting at additional charges to be brought against Haile.
Erie County District Attorney Mike Keane expressed sorrow over the loss of the young mother and her baby, emphasizing their commitment to a comprehensive investigation. Keane alleged during a press briefing that Haile intentionally started the fire subsequent to strangling Katie.
An obituary for Katie described her as a caring mother and dog owner survived by family and friends. Haile faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life imprisonment if found guilty, according to the DA’s office.