“I think I did something stupid”: Woman who started deadly blaze texted her son
A woman who allegedly set fire to a mattress after an argument between her and a man did not know that a young family was asleep upstairs, according to her son.
Jenny Hayes was arrested in Airport West on Thursday morning after the aggressive blaze in Melbourne’s south-west took the lives of Abbey Forrest, 19, her boyfriend, Inderpal Singh, 28, and their three-week-old daughter, Ivy.
The 46-year-old was charged with three counts of murder and arson causing death.
She allegedly texted her son after the tragedy occurred, telling him, “I think I did something stupid”.
Ms Hayes, who has no fixed address, did not know the young family, police have confirmed.
Speaking to Nine News, her son Harley said that his mother was allegedly unaware the young couple and their three-week-old baby were asleep upstairs when she paid a visit to a man who was temporarily living at the property.
"As far as I know, from what I've been told by my Mum ... this person she has gone to see has taken her money [and] left the house with her in there. So her being in a rage – she's been walked over a lot before by a lot of people – her being in a rage [she] set a mattress on fire and she left the house," he said.
Harley said he received a message from his mother at around 4am, which said, "I think I did something stupid," with a photo of the burning mattress.
"She got to my house later that morning ... she told me 'I think I did something stupid, I set fire to a mattress, I'm worried it's going to spread and hurt other people'. She didn't know anyone else was in there. She wasn't aware of it."
She claims that she did not know the family died until after she was arrested.
"She had no idea at all. I know she will never be able to forgive herself for what she's done."
Harley said Ms Hayes was a "really loving mother" who had done everything she could to take care of him.
"She hasn't always made the perfect decisions but she has always done what she thought was right. And what's always been best for me," he said.
"I just want [people] to know she didn't mean to do what she did."
After her arrest, Ms Hayes was remanded in custody and faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday night.
She did not appear during a brief hearing, instead remaining at Richmond police station. It is Ms Hayes' first time in police custody.