The man accused of killing a mother and her 8-year-old daughter and starting a fire at their Mayfield Heights home on Nov. 20 was indicted by a Grand Jury on fourteen counts, including aggravated murder, aggravated arson and aggravated burglary.
Dominique Swopes, 27, was arrested on Nov. 23 and charged Monday by the Mayfield Heights Police Department. On Wednesday, his bond was set at $5 million and a preliminary hearing was set for Dec. 3.
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Mayfield Heights Fire Department responded to the home on Longwood Road, and after the fire was under control, they found the bodies of 41-year-old Rebecca Pletnewski and her daughter inside the home, according to a news release from the Office of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor.
Investigators on scene found Pletnewski had been stabbed and the fire was intentionally set, the release states. Her daughter was in a second-floor bedroom and died from smoke inhalation.
Swopes lives next door to the home that was set on fire, authorities said in a news release.
The indictment charges Swopes with five counts of aggravated murder, two counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of aggravated arson, aggravated robbery, tampering with evidence, receiving stolen property, murder and felonious assault.
The indictment reserved the ability to seek the death penalty, the release states.
“We are evaluating this crime as a potential death penalty case for the senseless killing of Ms. Pletnewski and her young daughter,” Prosecutor Michael O'Malley said.
