LA PORTE, Texas — A woman was arrested and charged after a deadly house fire in La Porte.
Sarah Leanne Flores, 34, was charged with arson and murder for the fire that broke out Monday on Virginia Street near S Broadway Street. According to the City of La Porte Police Department, Flores confessed to starting the fire at the home she shared with the victim, 71-year-old Connie Elaine Fortune.
The home was completely engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived shortly before 7 a.m. Firefighters attempted to rescue Fortune, who was asleep when the fire broke out, but she became trapped in the burning home. Conditions pushed firefighters away and she was unable to be saved, officials said.
Neighbors said they tried to get Fortune out of the burning house.
"Tried to break down the window to get her out," Tabitha Groft said.
Flores was seen by neighbors around the home at the time of the fire, according to investigators. Their statements, along with an investigation, led police to identify Flores as the suspect.
A motive for the fire has not been released.
Fortune's son said Flores had caused problems before.
"Last couple years ... (she) had issues here," Anthony Felsher said. "The woman who killed my mother is someone my mother has over and over gone out of her way to help."
Flores is set to appear in front of a judge for the charges on Wednesday.
Family devastated
Fortune's husband died from COVID in 2021 and now her family members are left mourning her loss. They said Fortune spent years helping people in the community, including Flores.
Zoe Felsher said her grandmother was kind and always willing to help others. She said her grandmother worked at a local church for more than 35 years and devoted time to helping recovering alcoholics.
"She let people stay at the house if they were struggling and things like that," Felsher said.
On top of that, Fortune also helped start a food pantry in the La Porte community.
Felsher is now left combing through her grandmother's possessions.
"An amazing woman," she said.
Family members never imagined this happening. Now, as they try to recover, they hope justice is served while keeping Fortune's memory alive.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help cover funeral expenses.