The deadly blaze destroyed a four-unit building at 3034 S. 48th Court in the western suburb early in the morning on February 14.
Lawrence J. Myers, 60, of 3217 S. 50th Ave. in Cicero and Marion A. Comier, 47, of 5300 W. 30th Pl. in Cicero were each charged with seven counts of first degree murder and two counts of aggravated arson, police said.
Meyers is the building's owner and Comier is the maintenance man.
Seven people total perished in the fire. Five of the victims were from the same family.
Sallie Gist, 18, had just returned home from the hospital with her newborn, Byron, the day before the fire. They were killed along with her 3-year-old son, Rashon, and the baby's 19-year-old father, Byron Reed. Twins Elijah and Aleshia Gist, 16, who were Sallie Gist's siblings, also died, as did the mother's friend, Tierra Davidson, 19.
"I'm very angry about this," said Cicero Town President Larry Dominick. "The lives of seven innocent people were taken so cruelly and with clear malice. This is a heinous crime."
Cicero police announced the charges at a press conference late Thursday night.
"It was a persistent investigation by the detective division and the arson investigators. Through some sources, a lot of witnesses are coming forward," said Lori Lelis, interim superintendent, Cicero Police.
ABC7 will provide more details about the charges as they become available on Friday morning.
