Owner of Ohio Home Where 3 Died Faces New Charges

Prosecutors have filed misdemeanor charges against the landlord of a reportedly vacant Ohio home where a Christmas Eve fire killed a 4-year-old boy, his mother and a man who was staying with them.

Court records show 72-year-old Sam Vazirani was charged Friday with 20 building code violations for letting people live in a home that the city had said should be vacated.

The Columbus Dispatch reports city prosecutors pursued the charges against Vazirani after Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien chose not to file a felony charge over the deaths.

Investigators believe a space heater ignited a mattress to start the blaze, but O’Brien says they can’t prove it in court.

Vazirani is scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 28. A message was left Saturday for his attorney.