A man who said he heard voices told police he set the fire that killed an Armstrong County woman and three of her children in their Apollo duplex.
Frederick Anthony Robinson, 51, of Chambers Hotel in Apollo, is being held without bond at Armstrong County Jail in Rayburn, pending a preliminary hearing scheduled next Friday.
He was charged Friday with four counts of homicide, as well as multiple counts of arson, risking a catastrophe and reckless endangerment.
Police said Crystal Marie Johnson, who died in the fire, and Robinson were acquaintances.
Robinson was near the fire scene at 212 Clifford Ave. when he was interviewed by police the first time Sept. 2, the day of the fire.
Robinson went to the state police post in Kittanning yesterday morning at the request of troopers.
A woman and several men were eliminated as suspects after interviews, according to Lt. Scott Neal of the major case team. He said an interview with Robinson turned into a confession by late morning.
Robinson, who said he is unemployed, was arrested within hours of a funeral service for Johnson, 40, and her children -- Rebecca Jane White, 11; Jacob Joseph Patrono, 5; and Cynthia Dawn Johnson, 2.
According to a police affidavit, Robinson said he heard voices telling him he was "no good and didn't deserve to live" and that "everyone was always doing him wrong."
Robinson told police the voices also told him that while he had hurt himself before, it was time to hurt someone else.
He told police he visited a bar and then went to Johnson's house to talk, but no one answered when he knocked on the door. Robinson said he then took an envelope from his pocket, lit it with his lighter and put the burning envelope on a rug before walking back to Chambers Hotel.
Robinson said he later "came to his senses" and went back to the duplex to help, but it was too late.
"I'm mental," said a handcuffed and shackled Robinson yesterday as he was led to a police car to take him to his arraignment before District Judge Michael Gerheim in Leechburg.
"I've been off my meds (medicine) for 2 1/2 months. I hope everybody forgives me," he said.
Robinson said he didn't intent to kill anyone. He admitted starting a fire in a Dumpster near the house and later at the front of the duplex.
"I hate myself. I'll be dead by the end of the month," he said.
Armstrong County District Attorney Scott Andreassi said jail guards have been alerted to Robinson's suicide threat.
Robinson was arrested at the Kittanning state police post in East Franklin, which is within walking distance of Armstrong Memorial Hospital, where Robinson checked himself in for a mental evaluation sometime after the fire, Andreassi said.
Andreassi said Robinson met Johnson about 10 years ago, when Robinson lived in Apollo and was a member of the borough's fire department.
While he lived in Apollo, Robinson faced a number of summary charges, including simple assault, according to police. Robinson left the state about two years ago to live elsewhere, including Charlotte, N.C.
Robinson had been staying at Chambers Hotel with his girlfriend for about three weeks after moving back from North Carolina, according to hotel owner Maryanne Minick.
Minick said Robinson was a recovering drug addict who was on medication for other medical conditions. She said Robinson had told her he hadn't taken his medication in several weeks because of a lag in paperwork due to his move back to Pennsylvania.
Minick said police had visited the hotel three or four times in the past week to question Robinson or ask others about him.
The arrest came as welcome news to Apollo's police chief.
"Everyone is looking for closure," said Chief Robin Davis, who has announced her retirement.
About 400 people attended the service yesterday at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Apollo for Johnson and her children.
Among them were classmates of Rebecca, who had started fifth grade at Apollo-Ridge Elementary School days before her death.
"She was a very kind, loving person," 10-year-old Willie Duff said. "She really made a difference in my life, and I wish I got to know her better."
The family's pastor, the Rev. Chris Sidwell, of Bible Presbyterian Church of Apollo, told mourners he couldn't answer the many questions about the tragic deaths of Johnson and her children, but he could offer the comfort and love of God.
"My heart and your hearts are broken and are grieving," Sidwell said.
