By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Mercer County announced that a Trenton man was convicted this week by a Mercer County jury for setting the July 9, 2021 fire in Hamilton Township that killed four people and nearly killed four more.
Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey stated that on March 4, Michael Sanders, 27, was convicted on all counts of the indictment, including four counts of first-degree murder, four counts of first-degree felony murder, four counts of second-degree aggravated assault, two counts of second-degree aggravated arson and one count of second-degree causing or risking widespread injury or damage.
According to MCPO officials, on July 9, 2021, at approximately 3:40 a.m., a fire started at 213 Woodlawn Avenue that quickly engulfed both sides of the two and a half story, wood frame duplex, causing a partial roof collapse.
A nine-month-old baby girl, identified as Malani Sanders, and her 42-year-old grandmother, identified as Tiffany Abrams-Jones, were found deceased at the scene, MCPO officials say. Three additional individuals were transported to the hospital with critical burn injuries.
The baby’s grandfather, 50-year-old Prince Jones, succumbed to his injuries on July 11, 2021, and Zamair McRae, 18, died a few weeks later, Mercer County authorities said. Detectives were able to retrieve video from numerous cameras in the area and speak to witnesses.
According to Mercer County officials, during the investigation, detectives learned that Michael Sanders had made recent threats to the occupants of 213 Woodlawn Avenue.
Detectives determined that Sanders took a taxi from an area near his residence in Trenton and was dropped off approximately one block from 213 Woodlawn Avenue shortly after 3 a.m. Sanders, wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt with the hood over his head, a mask and gloves, walked past the residence toward Greenwood Avenue approximately 15 minutes before the fire started, MCPO authorities stated.
Mercer County officials said that detectives were also able to obtain surveillance video from the Fast Trac Gas Station on Greenwood Avenue from July 9, approximately 10 minutes before the fire, which showed Sanders making a purchase of a dark colored torch lighter and cigars.
During this purchase, he removed the mask covering his face. Sanders left the store and was observed walking on Woodlawn Avenue back in the direction of number 213, MCPO officials say.
According to Mercer County authorities, approximately four minutes after Sanders passed that camera, the reflection of light from the fire at 213 Woodlawn Avenue could be seen on the video. Additional video captured Sanders walking back to his residence on Bayard Street in Trenton.
When he arrived on Bayard, he was no longer wearing a mask or gloves, MCPO officials said. Additionally, he was no longer wearing the dark hooded sweatshirt.
After reviewing this video, detectives canvassed that area and recovered a dark hooded sweatshirt a few doors down from Sanders’ residence in the bottom of a basement stairway, Mercer County authorities stated.
MCPO officials said the evidence and testimony presented at trial revealed that the fire was intentionally set on the porch of 213 Woodlawn Avenue, causing the biggest fire in Hamilton Township recent history.
Sanders will face four life sentences when he is sentenced on April 25, 2025, including one life sentence without the possibility of parole due to the age of the youngest victim, Mercer County officials said.