Illinois Child Charged With Murder For Setting Mobile Home on Fire

USA Today reports that an Illinois 9-year-old has been arrested for purposely setting fire to a mobile home and intentionally killing five people inside.

The child is being charged with first-degree murder, a nearly unheard of charge against a minor.

The April 6 fire killed a 1-year-old, two 2-year-olds, a 34-year-old man and a 69-year-old woman near the town of Goodfield, about 150 miles southwest of Chicago. The victims died of smoke inhalation. Woodford County Coroner Tim Ruestman said that the fire was started intentionally, the Star reports.

Two of the people involved in the mobile home fire survived.

Although the child (gender unknown) is facing first-degree murder charges along with three counts of arson, they would not have to serve jail time. Instead, if convicted, probation, therapy, and counseling would be likely. Illinois states that children under the age of 10 cannot be detained and the minimum age to sentence a child to jail time is 13.

No child under the age of 10 has been accused of murder since 2006.