Chicago Mother Demands Answers After Son Dies in Suspicious Fire: “He Was Set on Fire
Chicago, IL – April 28, 2025 — A grieving Chicago mother is demanding justice after her 27-year-old son, identified only as Scott, perished in a devastating fire that tore through a residential building in the early morning hours.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:22 a.m., when flames engulfed a structure on the city’s South Side, trapping Scott inside. Despite the swift response from the Chicago Fire Department, firefighters were unable to reach him in time. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not released the exact address of the blaze, but reports indicate the fire quickly overtook the unit where Scott was staying, leaving responders little chance to intervene before it was too late. The nature of the fire has raised serious questions and sparked community outrage.
According to Scott’s mother, who has chosen not to release her full name to the media, her son’s death was no accident. Speaking to local reporters at a makeshift memorial outside the burned-down building, she gave a chilling account: “My son was set on fire. I know he was. This wasn’t some random accident. Someone did this.”
As of Monday evening, officials have not confirmed whether arson or foul play is involved. No suspects have been named, and no arrests have been made. The case remains under investigation by both the Chicago Police Department and the city’s arson task force.
In a brief statement, a spokesperson for the Chicago Fire Department said:
“We are conducting a thorough investigation in cooperation with the Office of Fire Investigation and CPD. While we understand the community’s grief, we are not able to comment on potential causes or speculation at this time.”
Community members, however, are growing frustrated with the lack of answers. Neighbors who knew Scott described him as kind, quiet, and someone who largely kept to himself. A former high school friend who arrived to leave flowers at the scene shared, “He was never in trouble. Just a good person trying to make it. This should’ve never happened to him.”
The fire has ignited broader concerns about safety and accountability in lower-income housing units across the city. Residents are calling for a full investigation and demanding transparency from city officials.
For Scott’s family, the grief is still too fresh, and the silence from authorities too painful.
“I lost my baby,” his mother said through tears. “All I want is the truth. All I want is justice.”
A GoFundMe campaign has reportedly been started to help the family with funeral expenses and to support their search for answers.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the Chicago Police Department or submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-535-STOP.
As Chicago mourns another life cut short, a family waits in anguish, and a community braces for the truth—whatever it may reveal.