Relative charged with murder in house fire that claimed a fourth victim over the weekend
on August 24, 2026
A 32-year-old Richmond man has been charged with three counts of murder in connection with a house fire last week that killed his father, niece and nephew and days later, his sister.
Police say the fire, which broke out on the 200 block of 15th Street in Richmond shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday, was intentionally set by Sergio Ivan Rivera-Vega. He was arrested the next day and charged Friday. The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office said Rivera-Vega is related to the victims. He is being held in the Martinez Detention Facility under $2.5 million bail and will be arraigned Monday on the murder charges, which include enhancements for aggravated circumstances.
Authorities have not released the names of the victims.
In a GoFundMe page set up to support the family, Evelin Rivera identified Rivera-Vega as her older brother and the four victims as her father, sister, niece and nephew.
Richmond police and fire departments said in a joint news release that a fire was first reported at another house on the block around 8:15 p.m. Tuesday. While firefighters were putting out that blaze, a second one broke out in the victims’ home a couple doors down, which police immediately found suspicious.
Police said all four victims were in the second house when the fire broke out. They said a 47-year-old man died at the scene and that a 5-year-old boy died at a hospital a short time later.
Evelin Rivera said on the GoFundMe page that her 2-year-old niece died at a hospital Thursday and that her sister died Saturday. “My mom, siblings and I are heartbroken and overwhelmed trying to process the loss of our loved ones,” she said in her post, adding that the house was home to other family members.
The tragedy brought an outpouring of support from the Richmond community. The GoFundMe page had raised over $65,000 Monday, about 95% of its $70,000 goal.
“Our entire Richmond community grieves alongside them and holds them in our thoughts during this profoundly difficult time,” Mayor Eduardo Martinez said on social media.
“This fire is devastating for the entire family,” said District Attorney Diana Becton. “Knowing the suspect is related to the victims — including two children — makes this loss even harder to comprehend this senseless act.”
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