YOUNGSTOWN Leads sought in fatal '02 arson

A $5,000 reward is available from the Ohio Blue Ribbon Arson Committee.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- It's been 11/2 years since leads turned cold in the death of two little sisters whose house exploded in flames from a firebomb.
"We're at a standstill," said Capt. Alvin Ware, commander of the Youngstown Fire Department arson bureau. "We had a couple of leads but nothing good enough to go to court."
Rakaylah Clark, 8, and Ranayja Clark, 4, died May 2, 2002, from smoke inhalation at 33 E. Lucius Ave. Firefighters found them huddled under clothes near a second-story bedroom window.
After the firebomb was tossed in the back door about 12:30 a.m., flames spread quickly through the 21/2-story wooden frame house with mint-green aluminum siding. The next-door neighbor heard a "boom" then saw flames and called 911.
Firefighters rescued the girls' mother, Darilyn Clark, and older sisters, Chaunte, then 11, and Crystal, then 10, from the second-story porch roof. The three had kicked out a bedroom window to escape to the roof.
Rakaylah and Ranayja, instead of following their mother and older sisters, ran to another upstairs bedroom. No one could see in the pitch-dark, smoke-filled house.
The mother's boyfriend left about 10 p.m. and the family went to bed about 10:30. The mother told firefighters that she woke about 12:30 a.m. to go to the bathroom, saw the fire and screamed for her four daughters.
Ware and city homicide Detective Sgt. John Kelty are asking anyone with information to call either the arson bureau at (330) 782-0055 or Kelty at (330) 742-8249. Tipsters can remain anonymous or have their identities known only to investigators.
Ware said a $5,000 reward is available from the Ohio Blue Ribbon Arson Committee. The committee is a coalition of insurance companies.
Ware said the mother has been cooperative but may know more than she's saying. He said the motive was likely retaliation between adults but declined to say what precipitated the vengeful act.
"I have a potential suspect but not enough evidence to effect an arrest," Kelty said. "I need corroborating evidence -- a witness."
The physical evidence includes remnants of a plastic jug that had been filled with gasoline. He said the firebomb was probably used only to send a message -- it wasn't intended to kill anyone.
Kelty declined to identify the motive and suspect or suspects. It's possible more than one person is responsible, he said.
The detective said if the mother knows more than she's saying, she may be scared or intimidated. The mother, who now lives on Pasadena Avenue, could not be reached.
"I just need someone to come forward -- I know they exist," Kelty said. "Think about the two little girls."
Lt. Robin Lees, YPD spokesman, said the girls' tragic death must weigh heavily on whoever knows something and can help.
"The nature of the case should shock the community," Lees said. "What may have been a feud between adults left two little girls dead."
This is the second cold-case homicide that investigators have featured in the past month. Police Chief Robert E. Bush Jr. said a drop in the homicide rate is allowing detectives more time to pursue unsolved cases.
On Nov. 18, Detective Sgt. Daryl Martin asked the public for leads in the murder of 48-year-old Anne L. Griffin, whose cut-up remains were found Oct. 4, 2002, in trash bags on the East Side. Martin received a few tips generated by news stories last month, but the case remains unsolved.
meade@vindy.com