Aaron Clark: Philly man upset over breakup sets ex-GF's home on fire killing her wheelchair-bound sister
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: Aaron Clark, a Philadelphia resident, is accused of going to his ex-girlfriend, Amira Rogers', home on Sunday, December 4, the day after their breakup, and setting it on fire. Rogers was not home at the time, but sadly, her younger sister, Olivia Drasher, who had cerebral palsy and was dependent on a wheelchair, was unable to escape the fire ultimately killing her, according to an affidavit of probable cause acquired by People.
In the hours that followed, Clark, 30, was placed under arrest. He is currently facing numerous counts of murder, arson, stalking, and other offenses in connection with the Darby Township fire that claimed the life of 20-year-old Drasher. Additionally within the home were two relatives and Drasher's nurse, but they all reportedly made it out safely. "He knew the sister was in the house and would be unable to get out of the flames," claimed Darby Township Police Chief Mike Sousa at a recent press conference. "This is the most evil act committed by an absolute monster that I have ever had to investigate," as per People.
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The Delaware County District Attorney, Jack Stollsteimer, also spoke at the conference and stated, "This is all about intimate partner violence... taken to the highest degree possible. He tried to kill four people because one of their family members didn't want to be romantically involved anymore."
Rogers and Clark both worked for the US Postal Service, and the day before the fire, Rogers complained about Clark to the Postal Inspection Service. The probable cause affidavit states that she claimed he tried to choke her that morning when she told him that their relationship was over.
Clark is accused of sending Rogers a number of menacing texts prior to Sunday's tragic firing, according to the complaint. Along with that, he allegedly texted, "Pick up before I do something crazy, hope you don't miss the show," threatening to post pornographic images of her on social media.
Clark is said to have been captured on security tape leaving his ex-girlfriend's home shortly after the fire started on Sunday just after midnight. A neighbor reported to the authorities that they saw Clark allegedly hurl something with an "orange glow" toward the home.
Stollsteimer said, "[Drasher] was in this house, unable to move, unable to communicate, as her body is being fried and as she's choking to death because of the smoke, all because Mr. Clark was angry about her older sister breaking up with him," according to NBC Philadelphia.
Stollsteimer claimed that even after Clark's arrest, the suspect kept texting his ex-girlfriend in a hostile manner. Clark used an Apple Watch he had reportedly concealed inside his rectum to send Rogers those text messages from the holding cell. Clark allegedly turned "combative" and attempted to spit on the officers when they took the watch.
Clark was denied bail and is still in custody. It's unknown if he's hired a lawyer or not, according to reports. Rogers created a GoFundMe page to raise money for her family, who are presently homeless. "My mother was able to save Raquelle Drasher, Olivia's twin sister. But my baby sister Olivia did not make it out. My family has lost everything," she stated.