On June 16, 1989, a deliberately set fire at 1283 Andrus Street in Akron, Ohio killed three members of the Hartney family: Carrie Hartney, 25; her daughter Pamela Hartney, 2; and eight-month-old Benjamin Hartney. The blaze was started in the dining room and the adjoining stairwell in the early hours of the morning, a placement that made escape difficult for those inside. A roommate and her boyfriend were in the house at the time and escaped unharmed.

Authorities classified the incident as a triple homicide and the Akron Police Department led the investigation. The case remains unsolved and no arrests have been announced. Anyone with information about the deaths of Carrie, Pamela, and Benjamin Hartney is asked to contact investigators to help bring justice and closure.