Hamilton indicted on murder charges in fire that killed woman, child

A 16th Judicial District Court grand jury has indicted a man on murder charges in a Verdunville fire that killed two people, including a 5-year-old, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Derwin Hamilton, 49, was indicted Friday on two counts of first-degree murder.
Hamilton was arrested soon after the July 13 mobile home fire on Prairie Road in Verdunville.
The female victim was later identified as Stephanie Joseph, 55. She was critically injured in the fire and died Aug. 1.
The child, identified as Joshua Hamilton, 5, was pronounced dead at an area hospital soon after the fire.
Joseph told first responders that during an argument, Hamilton poured a liquid on her and the child, who is Hamilton’s great-nephew, and set them on fire.
In an interview with deputies, Hamilton admitted to setting the fire, the Fire Marshal’s Office said.
In Louisiana, first-degree murder is defined as a homicide committed with intent to kill or cause great bodily harm in the presence of a list of defined circumstances. Among the circumstances: killing a child, killing more than one person and murder committed in the course of another serious crime.
First-degree murder is punishable by the death penalty or life in prison.