Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The man accused of killing his three children in a house fire in New Orleans East in October 2023 has been indicted on three murder charges.
On Oct. 18, 2023, the New Orleans Fire Department responded to a fire in the 4900 block of America Street.
Following an investigation, officials with the New Orleans Police Department said they believed the fire was intentionally set by the children’s father.
The NOPD reported Joseph Washington was later arrested in connection with the fire after a search where he allegedly tried to get away by jumping off an overpass on Interstate 610 East at the Elysian Fields Avenue exit.
On Nov. 16, 2023, a judge granted an evidence motion from Washington’s defense team that allowed his lawyers to seek out items that could be deemed as usable evidence to help his case.
On Thursday, March 7, the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office confirmed Washington was indicted on three counts of first-degree murder and a charge of obstruction of justice by a grand jury.
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