By Nate Guidry
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania)
Copyright 2006 P.G. Publishing Co.
A 39-year-old Perry Hilltop woman was arrested and charged with attempted homicide, arson and child endangerment yesterday after she set her 15-year-old son ablaze with gasoline, then tried to set the house on fire while her four other children were inside.
Police said Angela Livingston also poured gasoline and lighter fluid on two other children and attempted to set them ablaze.
Several neighbors said Ms. Livingston was very strict, rarely allowing her children to go beyond the front porch.
At around 1:30 p.m., police and emergency personnel responded to 2715 Norwood Ave. for a report of unknown trouble.
After arriving, police found Ms. Livingston inside covered in blood. Also inside the home were her son and four daughters. The children range in age from 5 to 15.
Pittsburgh police Lt. Kevin Kraus, said the woman first assaulted her children. He said all of them had been cut with a knife on various parts of their bodies. Lt. Kraus said the teen boy had bruises to the rear of his head and his back looked like he had been whipped with a hose.
Lt. Kraus said that after Ms. Livingston doused three of her children with gasoline, she poured large amounts of gasoline and lighter fluid throughout the house and attempted to set it ablaze.
Lt. Kraus said Ms. Livingston was taken into custody. He said the five children were taken to Children’s Hospital, where they were being treated for various injuries last night. The Allegheny County Office of Children, Youth and Families had been notified, Lt. Kraus said.
During their initial investigation, police found a gasoline can in a wooded area across the street from the Norwood Avenue dwelling. Police were inspecting the can to determine if it was used in the incident.