Federal prosecutors may seek life imprisonment for two central Vermont men accused of arson resulting in death in a Northfield fire last year.
A federal grand jury in Burlington handed down an indictment charging Howard Hoisington, 32, of Berlin, and Jonathan Zampieri, 34, of Montpelier, with arson with death resulting, according to an announcement Wednesday from the U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont’s office.
The charges stem from a fire in December that killed 22-year-old Brittany Burt and severely burned her boyfriend, Efren Serrano.
Serrano told medical personnel that the fire began when people broke into his apartment, doused him and Burt in gasoline and lit them on fire, according to an affidavit.
Prosecutors may seek a penalty of life in prison for the new arson charges, according to the statement this week.
Court documents say Hoisington, Zampieri and Kevin Atwood went to Burt’s Northfield apartment with several others the night of the fire with the intention of robbing them of money and drugs, according to the statement.
The three men allegedly went into the apartment, poured gasoline over Burt and Serrano as a fear tactic, and lit them on fire.
Hoisington, Zampieri and Tammy Wilder, 45, of Berlin, were arrested in December on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery.
Atwood was later arrested and faced charges of lying to police. Atwood died last month at Northwest State Correctional Facility, where he was being held.
The grand jury also charged Zampieri, Hoisington, Tammy Wilder, 45, of Berlin, and Kimberly Hoisington, 57, of Berlin, with conspiracy to commit robbery, according to the statement Wednesday.
Hoisington’s parents, Richard and Kimberly, are facing several charges, including for conspiracy to distribute crack and maintaining a crack house. Kimberly Hoisington is also charged with conspiracy to commit robbery; she allegedly was part of the group that went to Northfield the night of the fire.
Richard and Kimberly Hoisington were arraigned Wednesday in federal court and pleaded not guilty, according to the statement.
The other three defendants — Howard Hoisington, Zampieri and Wilder — are expected to be arraigned in November.
Attorneys representing Zampieri and Howard Hoisington did not immediately return calls for comment Wednesday evening.
The post Two charged with fatal Northfield arson faced with life in prison appeared first on VTDigger.