Family Of Meth Fire Victim Wants Suspect Jailed

By Tara Vreeland, The News On 6

TULSA, OK - Tulsa Police are searching for a man charged in connection with a meth lab fire.  The fire happened at the Royal Arms Apartments in March.  The fire killed two people and seriously injured a third.

Niki Cain was in the intensive care unit for weeks, her family made the difficult decision to take her off life support, but Cain continued to breathe.  While Cain is in a nursing care facility, the man who police say is behind the meth lab fire is on the loose and Niki Cain's family is devastated.

"When we took her off life support, they told us she wouldn't make it and so when we took her off life support.  She started breathing," said Cain's cousin, Deborah Morris.

Morris says she's not sure that is for the best.

"Because she has no quality of life whatsoever," said Deborah Morris.

Niki Cain suffered permanent brain damage from smoke inhalation. The desperation could be heard in her frantic voice as she called 911 for help.

"That's the last time we ever heard her and it broke my heart," said Deborah Morris.

The firefighter who rescued Cain from her burning apartment building on March 10th is devastated by her current condition.

"Even though he saved her life, he couldn't stand how she ended up," said Deborah Morris.

Four people were injured in the fire which was started by a meth lab. One of the four injured, Mark Roberts, was charged Friday with two counts of felony murder arson and making drugs. Roberts was released from the hospital. And now, there is a warrant out for his arrest.

"I was told he purposely walked out of that apartment and left that stuff cooking," said Deborah Morris.  "I'm just angry that law enforcement did not take the steps to make sure he did not walk out of that hospital."

The district attorney will not comment on the case until Roberts is in custody. And, while Roberts is walking free, Niki Cain can only blink swallow and breathe.

"He's already killed two people.  As far as I'm concerned, he's killed three because she has no life. She's just laying there as a vegetable," said Deborah Morris.  "Her laugh. Her friendship. We saw each other almost every day and it's hard."

Prior to the fire, Cain worked as a substance abuse counselor at Tulsa Rightway Medical.

Mark Roberts has served time in prison for several drug-related offenses in the past.  Anyone with information on his whereabouts can call Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS.