Woman torched apartment to carry out alleged 'kill list' then celebrated with a beer and cigarette

By SOPHIA BAUM - FEMAIL REPORTER, INTERN Published: 18:56, 17 June 2026 | Updated: 18:57, 17 June 2026 A North Carolina woman allegedly set fire to an apartment complex and enjoyed a cigarette and beer while she watched it burn, as paramedics loaded her injured mother into an ambulance and her brother suffered serious injuries. Mahogany Ashley Massey, 31, has been charged with first-degree arson and multiple counts of assault, causing seven individuals serious bodily injury following a June 14 blaze at the University Ridge apartment complex in Durham, about 25 miles northwest of Raleigh.  During Monday's court appearance, investigators said they discovered a handwritten 'people to kill list' among her belongings and alleged she had attempted to start another fire at the apartment complex a week prior.  Sunday's fire tore through the two-story apartment building, where her mother and brother lived, shortly before 11 am, forcing terrified residents to flee as flames surged, engulfing the structure. According to the Durham Fire Department, one resident jumped from a third-story window to escape while firefighters rescued others trapped inside.  Crews arriving at the scene encountered heavy fire conditions and escalating winds that complicated rescue efforts and firefighting operations.  The fire took approximately an hour to bring under control, with 75 firefighters and 33 apparatus responding to the scene. Firefighters also rescued a dog trapped inside one of the apartments, according to WRAL. Officials said seven people suffered injuries in the fire, including at least one firefighter.  Mahogany Ashley Massey, 31, allegedly watched without a care in the world, beer and cigarette in hand, as her mother was loaded into the ambulance  She was accused of starting the blaze after the investigators found a 'people to kill' list amongst her belongings Seven individuals are suffering from injuries sustained in the blaze, three of which are firefighters Five victims were transported to Duke University Hospital for treatment. The firefighter’s injuries were not considered life-threatening. Among those injured were members of Massey’s own family. Prosecutors told the court that her mother remains hospitalized, suffering from severe smoke inhalation injuries sustained during the fire. Her brother also suffered serious injuries while trying to save their mother from the burning building. According to prosecutors, an explosion involving gas severely injured him, severing an artery as he attempted the rescue.  Authorities later arrested Massey and charged her with multiple felonies. Court documents allege she unlawfully set the fire, causing serious injuries to residents and emergency personnel.  During a court hearing, Massey’s father, Daron Massey, described what he claimed was his daughter’s emotionless reaction as first responders treated her mother. Massey has been charged with first-degree arson and multiple counts of assault following a fire on June 14 Massey's father revealed to WRAL that his daughter 'is a bipolar and paranoid Schizophrenic' and shared that she had been off her medication for two months at the time of the blaze He told the local media outlet that while emergency crews rushed his wife into an ambulance, Massey remained seated nearby.  'She sat on the wall, looked at her, smoked a cigarette and drank a beer,' he said, according to courtroom accounts reported by local media. 'Any normal person would say, "that's my mom. She's getting in an ambulance. Let me run over and see what's wrong".' Massey's father also revealed that his daughter is a diagnosed 'paranoid schizophrenic' and had refused to take her prescribed medication several months ago. He said family members had repeatedly sought help but struggled to ensure she remained on treatment.  According to her father, previous involuntary commitments failed to provide a long-term solution because she was eventually released. The apartment building suffered irreparable damage. Fire officials said all 18 units in the building have been rendered uninhabitable, as they had to evacuate 18 residents. Nine of the apartments were occupied at the time of the blaze. Investigators also confirmed the building did not contain a sprinkler system because it was constructed in the 1980s, before newer North Carolina law requirements in 2026 took effect.  One resident, 28-year-old Justice Houllier, suffered a fractured spine and serious foot injuries after jumping from a third-story window to escape. 18 individuals had to be evacuated swiftly as the sheer strength of the inferno left the complex in ruins Massey remains in custody without bond and is set to appear in court next on July 2 Houllier told WRAL that alarms began sounding shortly before flames spread through the building. Faced with rapidly worsening conditions, he said he had no choice but to leap from the window. 'It was just like fight or flight,' he told the station. 'I had to do what I had to do to keep myself intact, the gates of hell were right there' he told WRAL News. Taking a light-hearted approach, he quipped, 'Funnily enough, I had a Spider-Man T-shirt so I had to jump!'  He added that while he lost a horde of possessions in the fire- they were 'material things', and that he was thankful to come away with his life.  A GoFundMe has been set up for Houllier's recovery.  Massey, meanwhile, remains in custody at the Durham County Detention Center without bond. She is scheduled to appear in court again on July 2 as prosecutors continue their investigation into the fire and the allegations surrounding the discovery of the purported kill list.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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