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Bond raised for suspect in fatal house fire

A Bladen County judge on Tuesday raised the bond for a woman charged in a fatal house fire to $10 million.

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Belinda Brown, charged in fatal Bladen County house fire
ELIZABETHTOWN, N.C. — A Bladen County judge on Tuesday raised the bond for a woman charged in a fatal house fire to $10 million.

Belinda Jacobs Brown, 49, of 1601 Peanut Plant Road in Elizabethtown, was charged Thursday with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths 49-year-old Marcia Wright and 12-year-old Yolanda Wright.

The Wrights, who were Brown's aunt and cousin, died of smoke inhalation.

Brown also is charged with first-degree arson in the case. Investigators said they found four places in the home where chemicals were used to help the fire spread more quickly.

Authorities haven't discussed a possible motive in the case.

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