Prison time for Des Moines man who set fire that killed his grandmother

A Des Moines man who started a fire that led to the death of his grandmother has been sentenced to prison.

The Des Moines Register reports 32 year old Ferid Hodzic pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and second-degree arson and was sentenced to 15 years behind bars.

The fire started around 10:00 p.m. on January 9 inside the home at 1113 37th Street. His grandmother, 83 year old Naima Hodzic later died.

"Defendant intentionally poured gasoline onto combustible items and ignited these items by throwing a cigarette onto the items soaked in gasoline," a Des Moines police criminal complaint states.

According to the Des Moines Register, Hodzic started the fire after he became angry about an online purchase he had made.

"Mr. Hodzic changed his story several times with the final story (being) he ordered a sweatshirt and was upset with the company since it was the wrong size," according to a Des Moines Fire Department report.

The flames quickly spread from the enclosed front porch into the house. Naima Hodzic was never able to escape the home, which she shared with Ferid and his father.

She was taken to Iowa Methodist Medical Center before being flown to an Iowa City hospital, where she was pronounced dead early Jan. 25.

(Mugshot: courtesy Des Moines Register)


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