Man arrested for double homicide after Austell house fire
COBB COUNTY, Ga. - A Mableton man has been arrested for double homicide after two people were killed by a fire on March 12 in Austell.
"Our family has been devastated by the actions on March 12, we have lost our mother and grandmother to a criminal act," said Elizabeth Nall, daugter of Andrea Nall who died in the house fire.
According to the Cobb County Fire Department, they responded to a residential fire around 5:34 a.m. in the 5500 block of Janet Lane.
Firefighters found two people inside the home -- 52-year-old Andrea Nall and her mother 74-year-old Michele LaCroix. They were transported to Cobb Wellstar Hospital where they died of their injuries.
Investigators determined the fire was deliberately set.
"They developed a suspect early on, and we were able to make the connection to that individual," said Cobb County Police Sgt. Wayne Delk.
Robert Colt Smith (Cobb County Sheriff's Office)
Police arrested 30-year-old Robert Colt Smith. He is in the Cobb County jail charged with two counts of murder, three counts of arson and one count of aggravated cruelty to animals. There were four cats and three dogs that died in the fire.
A memorial service is planned for Andrea Nall and Michel LeCroix at the American Legion in Smyrna at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 26.
Friends have set up a GoFundMe for the family.