Where's she at? Where's she? Oh my god. NO. HELP HIM. ALEX, >> your back's too hot. Here. >> They said if I didn't myself, they would my family. >> That was one of the most horrifying things I've ever seen in my life. >> I was pissed cuz I chose to save her life instead of my cats. >> On April 10th, 2024, officers responded to an active structure fire at an apartment complex. The call was initially treated as a fire response, but almost immediately there were indications this scene involved more than an accidental blaze. What unfolded would require officers to balance emergency response with an emerging criminal investigation. I'm Jack and this is Unpopular. >> There's visible flames coming from the other side of it. >> Where's she at? Hey, where's she at? Where's she at? >> ON THE OTHER SIDE. HEY, WHO'S INSIDE? MAKE IT OUTSIDE. LET'S GO. THERE'S A FIRE. [music] >> HEY, [bell] WHERE'S SHE AT? WHERE'S SHE AT? SHE'S THERE. Where she at? Where's she? Oh my god. We need him down now. We got a dog. >> Hey, anybody have an axe or anything? >> Do you have the tools? >> Hey, you have an axe or something? I'm going to clear the building. >> I don't have it. I don't have anything to break it. Where's the dog? Please. >> I don't have I don't have anything. >> They're coming. >> Get out. >> GET OUT. HELLO. >> Where's the fire department? >> We're They're coming. >> Help him, >> Alex. Back's too hot. Here. Too hot. Get back. NO. NO. NO. DON'T. IT'S TOO HOT. >> HE'S HURTING. TRY to >> Oh my god, dude. with you. >> HEY, YOU BETTER GO. >> There's a dog that's burned up here. A dog on the thing. It burn. It's so hot that we couldn't even >> He's right there. There's no one on there. Just dog 400 to correct the traffic from earlier. There's only disease came out on the porch. >> I was sleeping downstairs. I live underneath. >> I tried to hurt. That's hot. Burn my face. >> That's why I said don't. Are you okay? Do you need an ambulance? >> Well, they said if I didn't kill myself, they were going my children. Then come to find out my They've already my daughter and my grandchildren. >> What apartment do you live in? >> 11. >> What's your name? >> Gina Cornell. Somebody's taking >> You live in that apartment or in that one? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Well, her hair's melted. >> Well, she's saying she tried to do this to herself. >> No, I did not. >> My window open on the top. I'll go up and get it. >> No, no, no. >> It's fully engulfed. >> He's in the window. >> Who is it? >> My cat. All three of them. >> The fire department's already inside here. Make sure she doesn't go anywhere. >> What's going on in there? >> What do you mean? >> 400 second. I don't know whose phone or dog I'm holding. I'm holding one of their phone and dogs and I was just driving by. >> Okay, here we can >> I feel like I could just save that dog. >> It's too hot of a fire. It's too hot. There's nothing. There's >> the phone that needs to go back to somebody. >> Do you think I could have saved that? >> No, there was nothing that could be done. I tried to get up. >> It It was be It was before. I've never seen anything like this. >> I know. That's really bad. There's nothing with >> I don't I don't know who's >> we already got. >> Ma'am, you need to turn around and leave. >> My granddaughter is here. >> Okay. Well, you're going to have to leave. There's going to be more fire trucks and ambulances coming down. >> Well, you're going to have to leave and go around. We can't have you blocking THE AREA. >> HEY, MOVE THE CAR. >> OKAY. BUT IF MORE EMERGENCIES NEED HERE, THEY NEED TO GET HERE. OKAY. BUT I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW I'M MOVING THE CAR. >> IF I'M GOING TO GET AMBULANCES DOWN HERE TO HELP PEOPLE, I'M GOING TO GET I'M NOT YELLING AT YOU. >> OKAY, that's fine. That's fine. >> She was her apartment. She's got a cut on her wrist. I think I think she set it on fire, dude. She's saying the Trump and something else is doing this. The Trumps and the Bidens are doing this. And >> I tried my best, but we can't get to without some way to >> Is that your dog? >> No, this is my dog. Gina, >> let's stay over here. All right, we got an ambulance coming for All right, everyone get back a little bit. >> Dude, if that spreads to the roof, they're not going to get it stopped. >> No, people want to run back. I'm like, dude, no. It went quick. You see that down here? I mean, there's only And then it shot clear up to the top. >> Yeah. If it got into the roof, they're going to have a hard time. >> From the outset, [snorts] officers treated the scene as both a rescue and a containment effort. Evacuation took priority, but early observations already stood out. The fire appeared concentrated in a specific area, and witnesses were consistently pointing officers toward the same apartment. One resident, later identified as Gina Parnell, was found nearby with minor burns and signs of distress. Officers didn't draw conclusions at that point, but they noted her proximity to the fire and the fact that the affected unit was hers. >> So that's your apartment. Do you see what started it? >> I think somebody came in cuz I've been doing stuff. They've been monitoring me, they said. And somebody came back in um they left a package. People have been coming and going and somebody had taken the the uh cell phone. They c they called it a burner phone. They took that and um what else were you asking me about? I'm sorry. >> What happened to your wrist? >> Um trying to do stuff. They said if I didn't kill myself, they would my family. But then I remembered somebody had come in and they said yourself because or I would yourself if I were you because they've already your family and they're coming to to to get you. >> Did you see what they look like? >> Black. That's all I saw. Like >> And it And you did that yourself? >> Yeah. >> What' you use? >> Um it was a can. >> What What What happened that you said started the fire? >> I don't remember. >> I don't remember. >> We're going to go over here to an ambulance. Okay. >> I was in my bedroom. I had gone to bed. And when I came back out, there was a there was a blanket that somebody had put. See, I've been getting the some of the messages. Well, how come I'm not eating kosher food because I'm Jewish? Well, I don't care. I'm I'm only half Jewish. People shouldn't be harassing me about what kind of food I'm eating. And oh, I blanket was in the middle of my living room floor on fire. I didn't know what to do. I had a chair up against my door because I'm afraid people have been threatening me. So, I've had a chair up against my door. How long have you lived here? >> 6 years. >> I was driving and I stopped. The lady was on the balcony. I don't think that lady's mentally stable. >> Well, she's getting treated right now by the medical by the animal. >> She kept telling me she wasn't going to get out and I've just never dealt with anything like this. She was on the balcony. She managed to get out. She finally I looked at her like you have to jump now. >> And I didn't know if they wanted me to write a police report. I mean, I'll give you information if you want, but >> I just feel so bad. >> I probably look like an idiot. >> What happened happened? You did what you did. The only thing you could do is go forward. And if this ever happens again to you or you're in a situation like it, then do you have a little bit more, I guess, what you would consider feel. >> Yeah, but I feel like I up. >> Nobody up. Nobody up. Accidents are accidents. Okay. >> I know, but I >> All right, we better move out of the way. Okay. Yep. She's got abrasions cuts to her wrist. >> She set that thing on fire. I know. I got her info. Gina, do you live by yourself? >> Yes. >> I'm going to throw up. It's just a matter if it's now or I'm like an hour from now when my adrenaline calms down. >> Why? >> Cuz I just watched that dog roast. >> The landlord was mentioning use, but like I said, she's definitely there's something up with her. Altered mental status or something. When officers attempted to determine how the fire started, Gina's responses were unfocused and did not address the questions directly. Her statements centered on perceived threats to her family, prompting officers to prioritize medical evaluation and scene safety while documenting her remarks. Multiple witnesses independently reported seeing Gina on the balcony during the fire and stated she refused to evacuate. Several also expressed concerns about her mental state prior to the incident. While not treated as conclusions, those observations led investigators to consider the fire as potentially intentional pending further corroboration. >> She needs to be in a hospital. That crazy lady. >> Yeah, >> she started that on purpose. >> Yeah, my mom called. >> I was out here. Chris was on the phone. >> My mom called Tony times today about her and and now look what happened now. Tell my mom I'm telling you. >> Well, I can tell you that things are getting investigated is all I can say. So, >> she she started that [clears throat] on purpose and she had no regret for doing it either. >> No, she didn't. I seen her talking to the police earlier over here after I checked on my mom. Mom's like, "This crazy." But then Tony's like, "Oh, I should have listened to you, Sheila." >> I wasn't able to go back upstairs to get my cats and all three of them at that window. >> I'm so sorry. >> Every day like you hear something different from her every day. >> How long has she lived here? >> For a while. >> Longer than I have. And I've been here for almost three years. >> I parked at Joshua. We've had the cops call and do a welfare fair check on her and our house is still on fire. >> Our house is still on fire. >> My cousin was like we was going to go in that burning and all and drag her out cuz we didn't know. We didn't see. >> No, they pul They pulled Kevin out from the window. >> Oh god. >> Is he all right? >> I think so. As far as I know, I think he is. >> I think we only transported one person to the hospital. >> Yeah. >> Have you been dealing with your downstairs neighbor today? Right. >> Since we moved in. She She's got mental health problems. >> Okay. Okay. So, her story is probably not matching up. >> What happened today? >> So, today she asked us originally when we came home, she asked us to put her trash bag in another trash bag. So, we went inside, did that, went upstairs and as soon as we went upstairs, she started yelling. She does it all the time. Top of her lungs screaming you like she's literally talking me and you are talking. >> She's just screaming. thing though is she's resp it's more psychotic than that because she's responding to herself as another person. My mom had it before she passed away. So she like you piece of >> and then it would go to like another voice talking back. >> Yeah. >> And that was happening today and she asked you to take trash out for her. >> She asked she wanted us to but we ended up not >> I was going to take a nap. I have my alarm set till 7:45 >> and she just kept yelling >> at 7:45 this morning. the uh the >> just a little bit ago. >> I had my alarm set to wake up. So, I was already going to wake up, but it was cold. My cat was cuddling with me. Something fell off. Britney was in the living room and I got up. >> As soon as he got up, I was going to the door to see what the smoke was coming from. Looked down, seeing Gina was on her porch, asked her if she was okay. She didn't respond to me. I asked her if she was okay again. Louder. She didn't respond to me. I said, "The apartment's on fire. We've got to go." >> And that's what she said. This is what they get for trying to my family. >> That's what she said. >> Yes. >> She was standing there talking to his baby mom and she was trying to walk over to us. This is before you grabbed her to come to you. And she was like, "This is what they get for taking my grandbaby from me and never letting me see him. This is what they get." >> And this is after you saw the fire started. I got a detective coming in. He's going to want to talk to you guys especially, but he's also going to want to talk to all your neighbors, too. >> I tried to climb up on her patio. Miss Maline got away. >> Get her off the patio, but then the flame started coming out. I grabbed the dog, had the dog by the leash. >> I'm going to go check on Miss Meline. >> Okay. And then I walked away for a minute cuz the flame started coming out. I was scared. It was a gas building. And then as soon as I turned around, she jumped off and left the dog on the patio. I couldn't. By the time I tried to get back on the patio again, a police officer was coming through the building with a fire extinguisher. >> Unfortunately, there's nothing that anybody could have done for that dog at that point. >> Well, what pisses me off those firefighters. I wanted to fight him. I'm not going to. I'm calm down now. There's a ladder sitting right there towards our window and he was doing absolutely nothing. I said, "My cats are in there. My cats are in there." >> Unfortunately, >> all three of them jumped in the window and he had to go get somebody else to help him set up the ladder cuz he couldn't pull the ladder up from the second floor window to the third floor window. He [snorts] couldn't get it up by himself. I watched him do it. >> Yeah, I I know. >> I know. It's frustrating and it's heartbreaking at the same time. >> Like it's like, "Bro, that's your job. You can't even set up a ladder." That was one of the most horrifying things I've ever seen in my life. Is it smoke damage on all the floors or did the fire reach all four? >> These three all had fire. Well, these the bottom ones are smoke as far as I'm concerned. I'm new so I don't know much. But we walked in and it seemed like it was mostly smoke at the bottom floor and then all four of these on the backside at least had a little bit of fire and water in them. >> Nobody was left inside. >> Dog right there. >> Well, I was there for that unfortunately, but I was making sure all people got out. Do you guys know if you contacted the Red Cross? Cuz we got obviously people displaced. >> We did. Well, dispatch did. >> Okay. >> When you guys got here, did you see anything that may have indicated arson or anything? >> No, it it went quick cuz we got the call. I'm pretty sure they said they think that they smell gas and then alarms were going off and then it was smoke, possibly smoke. And then we got the department was fully involved. I think when you guys got on the scene where relay and the person was trapped on the balcony. >> Fire smoke investigation. And so it didn't even come in as a fire. It just came in as a smoke investigation. But I don't know what they said initially over the radio. Female in apartment is trapped under patio. Visible fire. Only one female trapped. Positive smoke alarm. So that was after they >> I know. >> So yeah, we'll have to ask dispatch what they originally said, but I thought she said gas at one point. >> The dog was on fire and we tried to hack that away and pull it, but I think at that point it was too late anyway. And I dude, I hate when pets That's why I tried to ladder this when they were screaming about the three cats in the window. I knew they were gone, but at least it looked like we were trying to do something. So, >> at that point, it's it's kind of Yeah, >> this is a stupid question. Why do you guys take all the furniture out? >> So, we don't know. We're trying to see if anything's under it because if it lights off again, we'll be back out here again. So, instead of flipping it from one side to the other, you just kind of get it out so there's no possibility of it burning. The one guy went in to see if he can get my phone and my personal key. >> Yeah, they're they're in there looking. If we can find it, I'll bring it up for you. But >> phone keys. And then is Red Cross going to come see her at the hospital or what? >> They're coming. They're not going to be down here for about 2 hours or so. >> That's wet and it's got to stay dry. So, I got to get her the stitches are going to be >> uh we'll figure it out whenever it happens. There. Red Cross is still like an hour or two away. >> He's over here sweeping day. I was sweeping out the building. I didn't. Next thing I know, I turn around and damn thing's on fire. >> Do you know of any issues that people were having with with Gina? >> She's a little off or rocker. I mean, every single There's not a single person that'll tell you she's mentally sane. >> I'm just trying to >> Yeah, she's got issues. >> Make a hole. >> Yeah. She don't like anybody. She starts with everybody around. >> She asked me to do something for her once and I I was going to do it to help her out and then she cussed me out. I said, "I'm good. You go to Tony now." I guess a lot of people have issues with it. >> That was the worst thing I think I've ever seen. And I've seen a lot of things. >> Oh, you were here when it happened? >> I was trying to hack it the sides off with an axe, but the fire was crackling on my face and I couldn't do it. >> Oh man. >> I'm sorry. I was cussing earlier. I was >> It It's a very stressful situation. >> Cuz I chose to save her life instead of my cats. That's what me off. And she did it intentionally. >> Did you see her on the porch or did you go to her apartment first? I banged on the door, but I saw so much smoke coming out. So I walked forward and down the would be down those steps. When I looked out the window, I seen her on the patio and she looked dirty as knocked on the door again. She didn't come out. Came back to the front patio and she's just pacing back and forth. And at that time, the flames grew from like this and just engulfed the whole apartment. Did you see where it may have been at inside the apartment or is it >> I think it might it from where it looked like it looked like dead center and like in between the living room dining room area. I know they're not big apartments, but it looked like kind of like right there like you notice fires here. It looked like it was like central in the apartment. >> Was she saying anything on the porch? >> First comment she made is what I heard trying to save her dog was backwards. This is what they get. They're all trying to my family. >> And that was when she was on the porch. Yes. Before she made it off. before she even got off. >> Yeah, we were I was asleep and I saw fire and like we got and I was in the same apartment with this other guy who has one leg and I was trying to hobble him out there and I had to run back in to try to get his keys and I breathe in some >> Oh yeah, he had sand. >> I didn't grab any of his lancet or the diabetic stuff. Um but the wallet was behind the picture frame and then the keys are in there. >> Perfect. Well, it's all he needs you guys. >> You were inside this apartment. >> Yeah, I was asleep. I was but I'm like a light sleeper and I smelled smoke and I told him to get his up and uh are out the door. >> Are you able to stand by for a little bit and talk to one of our detectives? >> Sure. Yeah, >> cuz they're they're going to want to talk a bunch of commotion out there. That's pretty much all I really heard. I just >> Have you ever talked to your your neighbor Gina at all or have any issues with her? >> No, I haven't even seen her. I just saw her walk by, but she needs to be arrested. I went to go up the stairs and I seen all that black smoke and I couldn't I couldn't bring myself to go up there like and it it broke my heart because I knew I knew right then and there there's no way of getting my cat. There's no way. I honestly no offense Sheila I was going to leave my door propped open. >> Oh well, I would have had to deal with >> your cat. >> I had three cats even though they passed away. Yeah, she was just talking to Tony landlord 10 minutes before. >> She had us bag up her trash. >> The trash that she caught on fire. >> Yeah, her neighbor bag for her. >> Yeah, that was us. >> Oh, that was us. We didn't answer the door. It was a few nights ago. We didn't answer the door. She came banging on our door. Chris seen that it was her and she I was like, "Don't answer that." >> No, she's crazy. She could stab us. No, I will outside on day in the day and holler down the steps. I said, "If you don't stop today, I was so mad." I said, "You've been doing this for 2 days. I'm tired. I didn't go to sleep or nothing. I'm tired." >> She was at me cuz I I'd run a cleaning business and she wanted me to clean her bathroom. And I said, "Okay, 35 to 40 bucks to clean your your bathroom if it's that bad." And she was she's like, "Oh my really." So, she kept leaving like notes on my door, notes on my door, like I don't need you to clean my And then she Yeah, I didn't save them though. I just crumbled over and I left a note like, "Stop leaving notes on my door. Leave me alone. You're crazy." And I left that on my door for like a week cuz she'd always leave like then she'd leave trash bags at my door and one time she left like a half thing of dog food >> and I can't feed it to my dog cuz she like you're trying to like weird. >> Yeah. She's like she ended >> she never did that to us. >> Oh yeah. And then like she asked me >> but we we've gotten into it with her before. She's tried coming at me and Chris sideways before and we were like uhuh you ain't coming at us like that. She tried to get me to come in her apartment. She's like, "Come in here. Have a drink with me." I was like, "Oh, no. I'm fine." >> Officers continued investigating the scene. Witness accounts were consistent. Neighbors described ongoing disturbances, erratic behavior, and prior confrontations involving Gina. One witness reported discovering the fire already burning inside her apartment before it spread, placing the origin squarely within the unit. By this point, the volume and consistency of statements reduced uncertainty about where the fire began, even as questions about intent remained open. >> It looks like the origin of it came from her apartment. She her wrist she's got cuts and she told us that she cut herself with a can opener. Gina, how you feeling? >> I'm all right, I guess. >> Okay. So, what happened? >> It's been going on for months. >> What's been going on for months? >> About my daughter is still back in Texas. >> Okay. I'd been texting and I think I', you know, I've done a welfare couple welfare checks on her in Umble, Texas, her husband. I was thinking just things that I was piecing together that he had committed polygamy with her on her was forcing her. And then something about bigamy came up, found out that he was married to one other gal who ends up being my uncle Charlie's illegitimate child with someone I don't know who. >> So, how did how did how did this fire start? >> I don't know. Did it start in your apartment? >> I don't know. >> Where were you at when this fire was going on or what happened? >> Well, I had been in my room >> and I came out to the living room for something or another. Oh, I'd gone out. Something about my trash. I was thinking about taking my trash out cuz there was three bags of trash out. And I kept taking my chair out from underneath my door and going out. So, wait. I'm getting confused. >> So, do you remember how the fire started or if it even started in your apartment or what? I don't know. I don't know. >> Okay. You don't remember much then? >> No, cuz I've been I've been doing things as I've been waiting on people to tell me things, you know, >> give me information. I thought I might have heard from somebody today. >> Are you taking medicine for anything? >> My daughter. Cuz they kept telling me first she was and things were happening and then people were were saying she's alive. They like just passed me in the store and stuff. She's alive. Now she's alive. kept alive while they're trying to take the gold bars out. And I'd be like, "What's, you know, what gold bars? I didn't know what they were talking about." >> Are you uh are you seeing a doctor for anything? >> No. >> Are you diagnosed with anything? >> No. >> Are you taking any medications or anything? >> No. See, this is something I've been fighting on my social security disability. I haven't been able to work because of my physical stuff. Okay. >> And I just recently back around, well, I knew that I was given awarded disability on depression. I was thinking, why depression? I'm not depressed. I'm frustrated maybe because of my health, but I was never really depressed. They were giving me anti-depressants. Okay. >> As like bus relaxers for fibromyalgia and different things. >> Okay. Do you remember how you got out of your apartment out of the fire? >> Oh, I went out onto the balcony and I >> It's okay if you don't remember. I'm just asking. >> And oh, my neighbor was going to come in or something. I said, "No, you can't come in. You know the you know there's the fire." >> Okay. Do you remember who that neighbor was? >> Chris. I don't know his last name. >> That's fine. All right. >> He lives upstairs for me. >> Yeah. Okay. I won't bug you anymore with that. You rest up all all you need and then if we have any other further questions, we'll follow up with you. Okay. >> All right. And then and then I didn't I guess I didn't know what to do. I thought I could get out. >> Okay. Yeah. Like I said, don't worry about it. Relax. >> And the people were yelling at me to get my dog and throw her over the balcony. >> I guess I got some smoke in the thinking. >> That's understandable. Don't worry about it. Relax. And if you have any other questions, we'll come talk to you. Okay. >> Yeah. >> At the hospital, officers attempted to obtain a clearer account. Gina acknowledged ongoing issues involving her family, but could not provide a coherent explanation of the fire's origin or her actions beforehand. Her statements were documented as part of the investigation, but officers relied primarily on physical evidence and witness accounts to move the case forward. By the end of the response, the focus had shifted from extinguishing the fire to documenting how it started. Witness statements, scene observations, and Gina Parnell's behavior were recorded for further investigation. Following that investigation, Parnell was arrested on April 10th pursuant to a warrant and charged with aggravated arson and cruelty to animals.