Police Search For Person Of Interest In Fatal House Fire

Saturday, June 23rd 2007, 3:44 pm

By: News On 6

On Saturday, Tulsa firefighters went to put out a house fire on the 6900 block of east Newton Street and discovered a gruesome crime scene. Inside the burning house, a dead baby and her young mother barely alive. News On 6 anchor Latoya Silmon reports police say 20-year-old Brooke Whitaker later died.

What started out as a fire, turned into a homicide investigation.

â€œAbout 11:15 this morning we received a report of smoke coming from a house,â€ said Tulsa Fire Captain Larry Bowles.

â€œWhen they arrived, they saw smoke coming from the house but no flames, made entry, went inside the house, found two people bound inside the house, a infant and an adult,â€ said Tulsa Police Captain Steve Odom.

The baby, 7-month-old Kia Whitaker, was dead. Police say her mother Brooke Whitaker later died at Hillcrest Hospital. They say her injuries were extensive.

â€œAt the very least a skull fracture and some injuries to her head which leaves us to believe she was the victim of a violent assault,â€ Odom said.

Police combed the scene looking for clues as to what may have happened.
There are no suspects, but police say 33-year-old Raymond Eugene Johnson is a person of interest. They say he use to date Brooke Whitaker.

We have learned that Johnson has an extensive criminal history, including a 1996 conviction for first-degree manslaughter in Cleveland County.

Oklahoma City Police went looking for him at his last known address, but he does not live there anymore.

If you have any information about Johnson's whereabouts call crime stoppers at 596-COPS.

Watch the video: Police Suspect Foul Play In House Fire That Kills Mother And Daughter