A Colorado community is grappling with the aftermath of a tragic fire that claimed the lives of a mother and daughter in 2022. Two teenagers, who were 14 and 12 years old at the time, have been sentenced for their involvement in the deadly incident.
Last week, the second teen involved pleaded guilty in court. Both teens received the maximum sentence of seven years in a youth services program. Their names have not been released because they are minors.
The fire occurred at an apartment complex in Lakewood. Before the fire, the teens had been asked to leave a friend’s apartment in the same complex. Later, they returned and set fire to bushes outside the building.
Surveillance video showed them running away as the fire grew. Kathleen Payton, 31, and her 10-year-old daughter, Jazmine Payton-Aguayo, were trapped inside their apartment and died from the smoke. Ten other people were hurt, and all the residents of the building had to leave their homes.
Prosecutors said the sentence provides some justice for the community. Relatives of the victims said they will never stop grieving for Kathleen and Jazmine. The first teen involved was sentenced in October 2023.
Both teens have been in custody since the fire. They faced charges including murder and arson. Family members remember Kathleen as someone who always helped her neighbors, and Jazmine as a sweet little girl who loved unicorns.
