ORLEANS PARISH – The State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFM) has closed three Central City commercial arson cases, one from 2019 and two others from 2021, with the arrest of two New Orleans women.

Neice Johnson, 52, was booked into the Orleans Justice Center on one count of Aggravated Arson in connection with an October 2019 fire at the McCaleb Apartments.

Special Marie Carter, 29, was booked into the Orleans Justice Center on two counts of Simple Arson in connection with two October 2021 auto repair business fires that occurred within two hours of each other.

In the 2019 case, a fire was set inside an elevator of a three-story apartment building located in the 2400 block of Clio Street. The building had 46 units, dozens of which were occupied at the time of the fire. More than half of those residents are disabled. Following extensive investigative efforts and tips from the public following a request by this agency for information in the case, Johnson was identified as a suspect in the case and a warrant was obtained for her arrest. Johnson was located and taken into custody on Wednesday, Sept. 28.

In the 2021 cases, an auto repair shop located in the 2100 block of Earhart Boulevard, along with several vehicles outside of the building, was reported on fire two hours before a second auto repair shop, located around half a mile away in the 1600 block of Clara Street, was also reported on fire. Extensive investigative efforts led to Carter being identified as the suspect in both cases and a warrant was obtained for her arrest. Carter was located and taken into custody on Wednesday, Sept. 28.

Though both suspects were arrested during the same warrant round-up effort, deputies do not believe that the 2019 and 2021 cases are connected.

The SFM is grateful to the New Orleans Fire Department and the public for their partnership in getting these cases solved.