BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — A Buffalo man accused of murdering his girlfriend is now also charged with murdering his newborn son inside their home in the Elmwood Village.
30-year-old Kidane Haile was in court on October 23 and was indicted on one count of second-degree murder in the death of 29-year-old Kathleen "Katie" Carrig.
Haile returned to court on Thursday and was arraigned on a superseding indictment and charged with:
- One count of first-degree murder
- Two counts of second-degree murder
- One count of third-degree arson
According to the DA, crews responded to a fire at the family's home on Norwood Avenue shortly after 8:30 a.m. on October 18. Firefighters removed Haile, Kathleen and their four-day-old son Noah Carrig from the burning home. Kathleen and Noah were both pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators said Haile was taken to the Erie County Medical Center and hospitalized for several days to receive treatment for smoke inhalation.
The district attorney's office said the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the manner of Kathleen's death was homicide caused by asphyxia due to strangulation, and determined Noah's manner of death was a homicide. According to court documents obtained by 7 News, Noah died "by asphyxiation and/or thermal injuries.”
WATCH: Buffalo man charged with first-degree murder over deaths of girlfriend and newborn son
Haile is also accused of using gasoline as an accelerant to start a fire inside the bedroom of the home.
"The evidence is going to establish that [Haile] intentionally started the fire with gasoline," Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane said. "The allegations include that he murdered Katie Carrig by strangulation prior to his starting the fire."
Haile remains held without bail and is scheduled to return on December 1 for a pre-trial conference. If convicted of the highest charge, he faces a maximum of life in prison without parole.
"This case has blown up on social media. I certainly understand the reasons why. But, it is day one of this case and there’s a lot more to go," Haile's defense attorney, Dan Dubois, said. "So, give everybody the time to heal, to grieve, and we can talk again months from now."
