Suspicious Mira Mesa house fire leaves two women clinging to life

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – A suspicious early-morning house fire in Mira Mesa
Thursday left a woman and her adult daughter hospitalized in grave condition and a
third relative under arrest on suspicion of arson and attempted murder,
authorities reported.

The blaze in the 11200 block of Featherhill Lane erupted about 1:30
a.m., according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

It took crews about 10 minutes to subdue the flames. Firefighters then
found the two women, ages 69 and 48, unconscious in separate rooms, police Lt.
Jorge Duran said. Medics took them to hospitals, where they were admitted with
life-threatening injuries.

As the blaze was spreading through the second floor of the two-story
house, witnesses saw a live-in relative of the victims, 44-year-old Thongsavanh
Sphabmixay, leaving the area, Duran said. When Sphabmixay returned a short time
later, officers detained him, Duran said.

After being questioned, the suspect was arrested and booked into San
Diego Central Jail. He was being held without bail pending arraignment,
scheduled for Monday afternoon.

Due to the severity of the women's injuries, homicide detectives were
gathering evidence along with fire investigators, according to police.

The lieutenant declined to specify how the suspect was related to the
victims. Neighbors told reporters he was the son of one and brother of the
other.