Police allege fire was an attempted murder-suicide

By Brian C. Louwers
C & G Staff Writer

WARREN — Police said a mother of two was arraigned from a hospital bed on charges of assault with intent to murder and arson on Nov. 19, a day after police said a “suspicious” fire broke out in her family’s two-story home on Engleman, near 10 Mile and Hoover.

According to Warren Police Lt. Michael Torey, 32-year-old Tanya Laura Friedly was questioned and charged after investigators responding to the scene pored over the circumstances surrounding the fire, which officials said gutted the second floor of the home at 11:59 a.m. on Nov. 18.

Torey said a police investigation indicated that Friedly had removed her 13-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter from their respective schools at about 10 a.m. She reportedly signed them out of class and indicated that they had to go to a doctor’s appointment.

When they returned home instead, police said the woman allegedly made a strange statement to the children. She also allegedly tried to incapacitate them with prescription medication.

“She advised them that they didn’t have any appointments. The 13-year-old son said that his mom indicated that she was going to be going up to heaven shortly,” Torey said. “She wanted to spend some time with them before she went up to heaven.”

The medication was reportedly given to the children in a drink by their mother.

Police further alleged that at some point before noon, Friedly set fire to a mattress in an upstairs bedroom. Still downstairs, the children reportedly smelled smoke and used their mother’s cell phone to call 911. They fled the burning home and a citizen reportedly pulled Friedly from the flames, and police and firefighters arrived. 

“It was a two-story house and upon arrival of the first engine company the second floor was fully involved,” Warren Fire Chief Jerry Tignanelli said. “We had an investigator over there until basically nightfall last night [Nov. 18] investigating.”

Torey said the children were unharmed by the fire but were transported to a local hospital as a precaution. He said Friedly’s son had been released to a relative after police made contact with Child Protective Services, while her daughter was transported to another hospital for observation linked to the alleged attempted drugging.

Police said the children’s biological father did not reside at the address.

Friedly was arraigned at an undisclosed hospital by 37th District Court Visiting Judge Sherman Faunce on two counts of assault with intent to commit murder, a felony punishable by up to life in prison. She was also charged with one count of arson, a 20-year felony.

Faunce set bond for Friedly at $1 million. She is scheduled to appear for a preliminary examination in the 37th District Court at 8:45 a.m. on Dec. 2.

You can reach Staff Writer Brian C. Louwers at brianlouwers@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1089.