Woman Pleads Guilty To Worcester Fire That Killed 4

WORCESTER, MA - A woman charged in connection to a 2022 fire that killed four people pleaded guilty, according to a statement from District Attorney Joseph Early.

Yvonne Ngoiri, 39, pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree murder and two counts of arson. She was a former tenant in the building and was arrested about four months after the fire. 21 people were displaced in addition to those who died, and one woman survived after falling out of a third-floor window.

Ngoiri was sentenced to four life sentences with parole eligibility after 20 years. In addition, she was given 18-to-20 years for the arson charges, 14-to-15 for one count of assault and battery causing serious bodily injury and 9-to-10 years for the two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. The sentences will be served concurrently.

The four-alarm fire at the three-decker at 2 Gage St. broke out in the early hours of May 14, 2022. The four people who died were identified as: Joseph Garchali, 47, Christopher Lozeau, 53, Vincent Page, 41, and Marcel Fontaine, 29.

Parts of 5 Eastern Ave., a nearby building, were also damaged.