UPDATE | Robert Seman faces death penalty on charges he killed 3 in arson

YOUNGSTOWN — Robert Seman was indicted on aggravated murder and arson charges today by a Mahoning County grand jury for a March 30 fire that killed a 10-year-old witness who accused him of rape as well as her grandparents.

Seman, 46, of West Calla Road in Green, faces three counts of aggravated murder for the deaths of Corinne Gump, 10, and her grandparents William and Judith Schmidt in the Schmidt's Powers Way home just hours before jury selection was set to begin in Seman's trial.

Seman also faces charges of aggravated burglary. Two of the six death-penalty counts are for Corinne only.

The charges carry death-penalty specifications because the three died while another felony was committed, which was the arson; two or more people were killed; the witness to a crime was killed; and a person younger than 13 was killed.

The grand jury also says Seman eligible for the death penalty because he wanted to escape prosecution and because the killings were premeditated.

Investigators have been waiting for samples taken from the home to be tested by the state Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation before presenting the case to a grand jury.

A search warrant was also served at Seman's home a few days after the fire and reports said Seman had burns on his body that were not discovered until a couple of days after the fire while he was in the Mahoning County jail, where he was out after Common Pleas Court Judge Maureen Sweeney revoked his bond the day of the fire. He was on house arrest at the time of the fire.

The rape charge is still pending and two counts of bribery were added when prosecutors said Seman's ex-wife told police he offered her money before the rape trial of she would tell officials Gump lied to police.

Prosecutors said gasoline was used to start the fire. Investigators found two five-gallon trash cans and "other evidence" close to the home.

The grand jury also says Seman eligible for the death penalty because he wanted to escape prosecution and because the killings were premeditated.