On March 9, 2011, a fire on Rolfs Place in Detroit killed 10-year-old Lataya Cook and her 8-year-old sister, Alaya. Investigators treated the blaze as suspicious after finding evidence of an accelerant, indicating the fire may have been intentionally set.

Their father, Dante Cook, told police he escaped by jumping from a second-story window and said the house had been firebombed; he also said he tried to get the girls to follow but they were too frightened. Both parents were questioned and Dante submitted to a polygraph; the mother initially agreed to a polygraph but later declined. The girls’ aunt publicly expressed doubts about the father’s account.

A memorial of stuffed animals and toys appeared on the charred steps, and funerals were held at Second Ebenezer Church. Lataya was in fourth grade and Alaya in third grade at Spain Elementary School. No arrests or charges have been publicly announced, and who set the fire remains unresolved.

If anyone knew Lataya or Alaya, lived on Rolfs Place in 2011, or has information about that night, please come forward.