An irate woman allegedly said “You’re all going to die today” before setting fire to a Queens garage containing her ex-boyfriend and his female friend, killing them both, prosecutors said Wednesday.
According to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, father-of-three Edward Jacobs, 35, and Anastasia Ettienne, 33, were trapped in the smoke and flames of the two-story structure when Aliya Fakhri, 43, allegedly set fire to it on purpose at the entrance on November 2.
Fakhri appeared outside the detached garage of a Jamaican home around 6:20 a.m. and addressed her threat at Jacobs, who was sleeping inside, before allegedly carrying it out.
When Ettienne saw the fire, she dashed upstairs to save Jacobs, who was sleeping, according to prosecutors. However, the garage rapidly caught fire, and the pair was unable to escape.
Both died of smoke inhalation and heat damage.
Jacobs’ mother, Janet, told The Post that her son had broken up with Fakhri around a year ago, but she continued to pursue him.
“Like any other person being rejected, he was telling her, ‘Yo, I’m done with you.'” “Get away from me,” said the 54-year-old parent, who declined to divulge her surname.
“He’d been telling her to leave him alone for a year, but she couldn’t accept the rejection. “They broke up a year ago.”
Jacobs, a plumber, was working on a project on the property that included converting the garage into an apartment, Janet explained.
According to Janet, Jacobs and Ettienne were friends rather than lovers.
The father leaves behind 11-year-old twin boys and a 9-year-old boy, she said.
“My son was a very giving person,” she explained. “He’d give his last to someone. If you didn’t have anything, he’d say, “Okay, we’ll figure it out.”
Fakhri of Queens was indicted by a grand jury on four counts of first-degree murder, four counts of second-degree murder, and arson. She could face life in jail if found guilty on the highest charge.
She was remanded in court Wednesday, with her next appearance scheduled for December 9.
“As alleged in this indictment, this defendant maliciously ended the lives of two people by setting a fire that trapped a man and woman in a raging inferno,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement.
“The victims tragically died as a result of smoke inhalation and thermal injuries.” We extend our condolences to the families of Edward Jacobs and Anastasia Ettienne while we prosecute this case.”