WASHINGTON — A woman in Prince George’s County who was captured in a photo seemingly unconscious and guarded by her pet pit bull after a fire is now facing arson charges for a different fire at her house.
Around 1 a.m. on Dec. 2, fire crews responded to a fire at a residence in the 4800 block of 66th Place in Landover Hills, Maryland. While officials were investigating the blaze, they determined there had been another fire at the same house the day before.
The unreported Dec. 1 fire was determined to be arson and 34-year-old April Newell — a resident of the house — was identified as the suspect.
A memorable photo from the Dec. 2 fire shows a pit bull sitting next to an unconscious Newell, standing guard over her owner as officials arrive.
“They found enough evidence on the Dec. 1 fire that went unreported to the fire department to charge one of the occupants of the home with arson and that is the very same female that is laying next to that pit pull in the front yard the very next day,” says Prince George’s County Fire and Rescue Spokesman Mark Brady.
Brady says officials are now calling into question Newell’s condition in the photo.
“While she appeared unconscious at the time, paramedics were never really convinced that she was ever unconscious,” he says.
The pit bull, named Precious, was taken away because Prince George’s County has a ban on pit bulls.
Precious found a new home with one of Newell’s relatives in Montgomery County where it is OK to have pit bulls as pets.
Police arrested Newell on Dec. 31. She is facing arson and malicious burning charges.
Newell is being held on $500,000 bond.
The Dec. 2 fire at the same house remains under investigation.
WTOP’s Dick Uliano contributed to this report.
