Police say 19-year-old roommate of mother, 2 children found in Wisconsin fire also found dead

Roommate of 3 found in Wis. fire also found dead

MILWAUKEE — A 19-year-old who police called a person of interest in the deaths of three people found in a burning Milwaukee home has been found dead.

A statement from police spokeswoman Anne Schwartz says Brittney Robertson was found about 6:15 p.m. Friday on the city’s northwest side.

The statement contained no details about how Robertson died or where she was discovered and Schwartz didn’t immediately offer further explanation.

Police say Robertson lived in the home where a mother and two young boys were found dead earlier in the day after a suspicious fire. Investigators were treating the deaths of 24-year-old Rachel Thompson and her 3- and 4-year-old sons as homicides.

Thompson’s 6week-old son was found in good condition outside a church hours after the fire.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Police said a 6-week-old boy whom they feared was in danger was found abandoned but safe outside a church Friday afternoon, hours after his mother and two young brothers were found dead after a suspicious fire in their home.

The infant, Maurice Visor Jr., was found in good condition in a baby carrier on a sidewalk in the city’s north side, Police Chief Ed Flynn said at a news conference.

“Our investigation into how the baby went missing continues,” Flynn said. He added that police have a “working theory” in the case.

Police were searching for 19-year-old Brittney Robertson, who lived in the family’s home.

Investigators were treating the deaths of Maurice’s mother — 24-year-old Rachel Thompson — and brothers — 4-year-old Torian Thompson-Carter and 3-year-old Jaden Thompson-Carter — as homicides, police Capt. Kurt Leibold said.

Flynn said he wouldn’t discuss how they died because doing so could jeopardize the investigation.

When asked whether Robertson was a suspect, Flynn would only characterize her as a missing person whose safety was in question.

“We have reasons to be concerned about her and we want her found,” he said.

Firefighters found the dead family members on the second floor of their duplex while battling a blaze at the home early Friday.

Three people who lived downstairs from the family escaped the fire.

Terry Visor, who identified himself as Maurice’s grandfather, said he was “elated” to learn his grandson had been found.

“After hearing about Rachel and her kids being killed I didn’t know what to expect,” he told The Associated Press by telephone. “I was ecstatic when I heard Maurice Jr. was safe. Just to hold him again will be awesome.”

The infant’s father, Maurice Visor Sr., is jailed on a probation violation, Terry Visor said.

Flynn said police found the baby after receiving a telephone call about his location. Flynn said he didn’t know whether the baby had been dressed in winter clothing. Temperatures were in the low 30s at the time.

Terry Visor said he only knew Robertson in passing and had no idea why she was living with Thompson. He also said he had no idea who could have killed Thompson or why.

Torian’s grandmother, Tondalia Massey, said her grandson was a wonderful, loving boy.

“I just want to know why they took my grandbaby’s life. Why?” she told AP. “As I know it Rachel didn’t have any enemies. She’s a loving person just as well as my grandchild was a loving person.”

She too said she didn’t know Robertson well and didn’t know why Robertson lived in Thompson’s home.

Online court records show police have been searching for Robertson since September. That’s when an arrest warrant was issued for her after she failed to appear in court on a felony charge of possessing prescription drugs with intent to deliver. The records didn’t list a defense attorney.

Earlier Friday, officers strung yellow police tape to block off a one-block radius around Thompson’s duplex. Several neighbors watched the investigators through the windows of their homes but declined to come out and speak with reporters.

Diana Baldwin, 58, who lived next door to Thompson for about a year, said she’d never heard any disturbances or loud noises from Thompson’s home.

“They were quiet,” Baldwin said. “They mainly kept to themselves.”

Across the street, three red roses lay near a stop sign under the police tape.

One passer-by stopped outside the tape and stood silently for a few moments. When a reporter approached him he said quietly, “If you talk to the family, tell them the whole neighborhood is hurting. Tell them we all offer our condolences.”

Then he turned and walked away, declining to give his name.