A late-night apartment fire in Louisville, Kentucky, has led to serious criminal charges against a 68-year-old woman accused of intentionally setting the blaze while facing eviction.
Authorities say Elizabeth H. Radmacher is now in custody, charged with arson, wanton endangerment, and criminal mischief following the March 14 incident at a multi-unit residential building on Tazwell Drive in northeast Louisville.
According to investigators, the fire broke out around 3 a.m. after Radmacher allegedly started it inside her own bedroom before leaving the premises. Law enforcement documents indicate the act was deliberate, with officials stating the defendant “intentionally” ignited the fire.
As flames spread through the building, residents were forced to evacuate in the middle of the night. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as people rushed outside to escape the growing fire.
Multiple individuals, including officers at the scene, reported hearing Radmacher make a chilling statement during the incident: “I’m going to kill everybody,” according to charging documents. Police also say she claimed that someone else had compelled her to start the fire.
The situation quickly escalated into a dangerous emergency, particularly for those living in units above her apartment. Authorities noted that approximately eight tenants were inside the building at the time and had to flee to safety.
One neighbor recalled taking immediate action to alert others, saying, “I knock at the doors and told everybody to get out because the fire is coming.”
Another resident expressed concern for a family living upstairs, stating, “I feel sorry for them. He had a kid up there, so he could have been badly burned or killed.”
Emergency responders arrived swiftly, with 29 firefighters from two departments working to contain the blaze. Officials confirmed the fire was brought under control in just 19 minutes, preventing it from spreading beyond the original unit.
Despite the quick response, the damage was significant. Fire investigators estimate losses at around $100,000. One individual was transported to a nearby hospital, though details about their condition have not been disclosed.
While most residents were able to return to their apartments after the fire was extinguished, two individuals were displaced due to smoke and structural damage, according to local fire officials.
Authorities say the charges filed against Radmacher were partly influenced by the risk posed to a family of three living directly above her unit, underscoring the severity of the incident.
The case remains under investigation as officials continue to assess the full impact of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the alleged act.
