2nd Victim Of Tulsa Meth Lab Fire Dies

Maria Martinez, 39, died two weeks after the blaze at the Royal Arms Apartments in the 5100 block of South Norfolk Avenue.

Friday, March 27th 2009, 3:37 pm

By: News On 6

By Jennifer Loren, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Another burn victim of the Royal Arms Apartment fire has died. The fire, started by a meth lab explosion, happened March 10 and had already taken a man's life.

It was a devastating fire. Eight apartment units and countless lives were destroyed. Tulsa firefighters say the fire started after a meth lab explosion in one apartment at the Royal Arms.

The family of 39-year-old Maria Martinez is mourning her death. Martinez was visiting a friend at the time of the explosion. On Friday, she succumbed to her injuries at Hillcrest Medical Center. Her friend, 35-year-old Armando Nunez, died shortly after the fire.

Friends of another victim, 55-year-old Nikki Cain, expressed their anger, knowing she had been severely burned because of a neighbor's drug problem.

"I remember when I found out it was a meth lab explosion, I was livid. I was just so angry that I didn't know how to process it," said Ann Jamieson, a friend of Cain's.

Cain is alive but in critical condition at a hospital in Oklahoma City. She was rescued from her bedroom and stayed on the phone with a 911 dispatcher while waiting for firefighters.

Family members say they took her off a ventilator last weekend and she's now breathing on her own, although still unconscious.

Mark Roberts, age unknown, also remains in critical condition at Hillcrest Medical Center. He is suspected of making meth and causing the fire. He is still unconscious and therefore has not been questioned.

Police say they cannot file any charges until they have enough evidence to prove whose meth lab it was.

The fire caused more than $300,000 in damage.