Laquita Spears Charged With Arson After Allegedly Setting Milwaukee Senior Housing Complex on Fire Following Eviction by Father

A Milwaukee woman with a history of arson convictions is facing new charges after allegedly setting fire to her father’s apartment, causing flames to spread throughout a senior housing complex and placing elderly and disabled residents in danger.

Laquita Spears, 48, is accused of intentionally starting the fire after her father told her she could no longer stay at his apartment due to increasingly erratic behavior, according to a criminal complaint.

Spears had been living with her father for several weeks after being removed from a local shelter. Her father told investigators that in the weeks leading up to the incident, Spears had been talking to herself constantly and behaving unpredictably.

The incident occurred around 1:00 p.m. on January 13, 2026, when an argument broke out inside the apartment. According to police, the dispute began over $5 Spears believed a family member owed her.

As the argument escalated, Spears allegedly yelled and used profane language. Her father told police that he ultimately informed her she could no longer live in the apartment.

He said he then watched Spears walk toward the front door holding a red Bic lighter. As she exited, he claims she shouted, “Burn motherf**ker burn!”

Moments later, the father noticed his coat—lying on top of a couch—was on fire. He attempted to extinguish the flames but was unable to do so, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Investigators say Spears later admitted to pouring charcoal lighter fluid on the coat, the couch, and a laundry basket filled with clothes that she had placed on a table. She allegedly ignited the items with the lighter, starting fires in multiple locations before fleeing the apartment.

Spears reportedly told police she did not intend to hurt anyone and did not expect the fire to spread as rapidly as it did, according to Law & Crime.

Her father managed to escape as the fire grew, but authorities said the flames quickly spread to neighboring units inside the building, which primarily houses elderly and disabled residents.

The complex was not equipped with a sprinkler system, forcing residents to evacuate on their own. Police said some residents were seen hanging out of windows while others suffered from smoke inhalation. One elderly man was found unresponsive and not breathing and was transported to the hospital, where he was treated for chest pain.

Spears, who has two prior arson convictions involving family members, was arrested and charged with arson and reckless endangerment. She is being held on a $50,000 bond and has been ordered to have no contact with her father if released.

Her next court date is scheduled for February 26.