A California family is reeling from an unthinkable tragedy spanning three generations after a man allegedly set fire to their home, killing his father, his sister and her two young children.
Sergio Ivan Rivera-Vega, 32, has been accused of deliberately igniting the fatal Richmond house fire on Tuesday night. The blaze killed his father, 47-year-old Jose Rivera, along with his five-year-old nephew Andrew and two-year-old niece Joline.
The children’s mother, 33-year-old Maria, who was Rivera-Vega’s sister, suffered critical injuries in the inferno and later died from them.
Rivera-Vega is now facing four counts of murder in connection with the horrific fire that tore through the family’s Richmond home on Tuesday night.
For the surviving relatives, the devastation is twofold: they are mourning four loved ones while also dealing with the loss of the home their family shared.
“My mom and I are heartbroken and overwhelmed trying to process so much loss all at once,” Rivera-Vega’s sister, Evelin Rivera, wrote on a GoFundMe page.
“We urgently need help with funeral services and burial expenses for my dad, my niece, and my nephew.”
Authorities said the deadly fire was reported at about 9pm Tuesday. Police have identified Rivera-Vega as the person they believe intentionally started the blaze.
Sergio Ivan Rivera-Vega, 32, faces four murder charges after prosecutors accused him of deliberately setting the Richmond, California family home ablaze
Rivera-Vega is accused of killing his own father, Jose Rivera, 47, pictured left, and his five-year-old nephew and two-year-old niece in the devastating fire
The children’s 33-year-old mother Maria, who is Rivera-Vega’s sister, later died from her injuries as a result of the fire that killed her two children and father
He was arrested the following day and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.
Authorities have not publicly revealed what they believe drove him to allegedly set fire to a home containing his own relatives.
Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton described the deaths as a staggering loss made even more difficult to comprehend because of the relationship between the accused man and those who died.
‘This fire is devastating for the entire family,’ Becton said. ‘Knowing the suspect is related to the victims – including two children – makes this loss even harder to comprehend this senseless act.’
The youngest victims were just two and five years old.
Andrew and Joline were Jose Rivera’s grandchildren and Rivera-Vega’s nephew and niece.
By Sunday morning, a fundraiser for funeral and burial costs had collected almost $70,000.
In the online appeal, Rivera-Vega’s younger brother described a family suddenly left without a home and struggling to meet everyday expenses.
Prosecutors say Rivera-Vega intentionally started the blaze, although investigators have not yet publicly revealed a motive
The deadly blaze tore through the family’s Richmond, California, home at around 9pm on Tuesday, ultimately killing four relatives and leaving the property destroyed
Five-year-old Andrew was killed alongside his grandfather and little sister two-year-old Joline in the devastating Richmond house fire
‘My mom, siblings and I are heartbroken and overwhelmed trying to process the loss of our loved ones,’ he wrote. ‘We are asking for help with living expenses, after our home was destroyed in that tragic fire.’
He said he was unemployed and struggling to help his surviving relatives pay their basic bills.
‘Any donation or share would mean so much to our family as we try to rebuild our lives.’
As investigators work to establish what led to the fire, relatives have begun describing the family tensions that allegedly preceded it.
Anselmo Rivera, Jose’s brother and Rivera-Vega’s uncle, told KTVU that the accused man had struggled with mental health issues.
He also alleged that Rivera-Vega had made verbal threats against members of the family during the previous month.
Anselmo paid tribute to his brother as a generous, hardworking man who devoted himself to supporting his family.
Joline, a toddler, was Rivera-Vega’s niece and the youngest of the four confirmed victims killed in the alleged arson attack
Andrew was Rivera-Vega’s young nephew and one of two children prosecutors say died after their uncle deliberately set the family home ablaze
‘My brother was special… a very nice person,’ Anselmo said. ‘Anybody who come and asks him for something, he always says yes.’
Jose worked hard in construction to provide for those around him, his brother said.
‘I miss him,’ Anselmo said. ‘I feel very bad for him.’
Rivera-Vega was charged Friday by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office with three counts of murder with special enhancements.
His bail was set at $2.5 million and he will be arraigned on Monday.
