Alvarez Promises Investigation Into Why Arsonist Wasn't Charged In September Threat To Burn Kids

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 5, 2013 4:00PM

Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez launched an investigation as to why an arsonist who wound up setting a fire that killed him, his girlfriend and daughter and severely burned his son wasn’t arrested for trying to carry out on that same threat in September.

Nathaniel Beller doused his girlfriend Taniya Johnson and children, 4-year-old Nariya Beller and 9-year-old son Naciere Beller, with an accelerant and set them on fire Dec. 29. Johnson died that night at Stroger Hospital while Nariya Beller, who suffered burns over 100 percent of her body, died Dec. 31. Nathaniel Beller died from his injuries Dec. 30 while Naciere Beller is in critical condition with burns over 35 percent of his body.

The Sun-Times reported earlier this week that Beller threatened to torch his children during a Sept. 9 standoff with Cicero Police and had filled his bathtub with gasoline to carry it out. He didn’t follow through, but wasn’t charged with any crimes by Cicero Police or the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, in part because Johnson refused to sign a criminal complaint. Beller was released after a psychiatric evaluation. According to the police report, Beller had threatened to kill himself and his children because he believed Johnson was cheating on him.

Alvarez promised a “complete review” of the September incident, including finding out why Beller was freed so soon after the September incident and why her office failed to file charges against him at the request of Cicero Police. Alvarez called the arson “horrific tragedy involving the extremely complicated and challenging crime of domestic violence and the troubling and increasing prevalence of mental illness in criminal defendants.”

If Alvarez’s investigation into this case is anything like her investigation into the David Koschman death, you can understand our cynicism here.