Thread: GA: Gwinnett Police Seek Suspect in Meth-Fueled Fire

WITH VIDEO
Gwinnett Police are searching for Ivan Gonzales, wanted in connection with a Lilburn house fire that killed three children. Police say he faces charges of arson and murder.


Police Seek Suspect in Meth-Fueled Fire
Police search for suspect, mother charged

Updated: Friday, 18 Feb 2011, 11:26 PM EST
Published : Friday, 18 Feb 2011, 5:15 AM EST

ATLANTA - Gwinnett County fire authorities say three children who were injured in a Lilburn house fire have died. Now, they are looking for a suspect.

All three children died at Grady Hospital, one Thursday and two Friday, say Gwinnett Fire authorities.

The blaze broke out Thursday on the first floor of the Lilburn home. The children were trapped on the second level and were brought out a passerby who heard a woman screaming for her children. They were then transported to Grady Hospital.

The fire originated in a hallway between the kitchen and stairwell of the home. Chemicals used in the manufacturing of meth ignited, causing the fire, say Gwinnett fire officials.

Gwinnett police say they have identified a suspect -- Ivan Gonzales -- a Hispanic male about 5 feet, 7 inches and 190 pounds. He has a tattoo of Jesus on his leg. He is also known by an alias, John McGowan Torres.

Police say Gonzales was last seen possibly in a four door, gray or silver late model Honda Civic or Accord. When units initially arrived on the scene, they say Gonzales was trying to put out the fire with a garden hose. He appeared to be suffering from burns. He claimed the children were his and was not challenged when he left to follow the ambulance to the hospital.

Gonzales was initially picked up but never charged in connection with the stabbing deaths of two children near Lawrenceville last week, say police.

Gonzales faces carges of arson and murder, say police. The mother of the children -- Neibi Brito -- has been charged with Trafficking in Methamphetimine.

The case is being investigated by both Gwinnett Fire and Gwinnett Police.


http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/lo ... 0218-am-sd

Mom Held, Suspect Sought In Fatal Meth-Related Fire

Posted: 6:09 am EST February 18, 2011
Updated: 12:01 pm EST February 19, 2011

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. -- Gwinnett County police charged a man with murder after firefighters said they found chemicals related to methamphetamine production in a house fire that killed three children.

Man Sought In Fatal Meth-Related Fire

A Gwinnett Police spokesman told Channel 2's Kerry Kavanaugh that officers charged Ivan Gonzalez, 26, with two counts of murder and a third charge was pending. Police were searching for Gonzalez, who they said drove off from the scene.

The children's mother, Neibi Yamel Brito, 22, was charged with trafficking of methamphetamine. She was being held at the Gwinnett County Jail without bond, pending a Wednesday preliminary hearing. Brito made her first court appearance Saturday.

The three children died despite the efforts of three men. Two teenagers told Channel 2’s Eric Philips they spotted smoke coming from the home on Spring Mill Drive in Lilburn on Thursday afternoon.

“We just heard this lady screaming about her babies so it was like adrenaline or whatever,â€