Officials say an Ottumwa woman was arrested in connection to a fatal house fire on Sunday.
31-year-old Ashley Lankford was charged with 1st degree Arson, a class B felony.
According to the Ottumwa Police Department, on June 24 at 3:34 am, there was a heavy house fire on 220 West Fifth Street. Authorities say two people were present in the residence at the time of the fire. One person exited the structure via fire escape. The other person was unable to escape and died.
The deceased was identified as 59-year-old Ernest Wilson of Ottumwa.
Lankford was taken to the Wapello County Jail. She is being held without bond.
The incident remains under investigation.
