Aliya Fakhri, sister of Nargis Fakhri, arrested on charges of first-degree murder in New York

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Forty-three-year-old Aliya Fakhri, the sister of Bollywood star Nargis Fakhri, has been arrested in New York for allegedly setting a fire that killed her boyfriend, 35-year-old Edward Jacobs, and 33-year-old Anastasia Ettienne. The incident occurred on November 2, 2024, in Jamaica, New York.

On November 27^th, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Fakhri has been indicted on first-degree murder and related charges. She is accused of intentionally starting a fire near the entrance of a detached garage, trapping Jacobs and Ettienne inside with no means of escape.

DA Katz said: “As alleged in this indictment, this defendant maliciously ended the lives of two people by setting a fire that trapped a man and woman in a raging inferno. The victims tragically died from smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. Our condolences are with families of Edward Jacobs and Anastasia Ettienne as we prosecute this case.”

A resident of Parsons Boulevard in Queens, Fakhri was indicted by a grand jury on multiple charges, including four counts of first-degree murder, four counts of second-degree murder, and one count each of first-degree and second-degree arson. If convicted of the top charge, she faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Fakhri is scheduled to appear in court again on December 9.

According to the charges, on November 2, Fakhri arrived at the front door of the two-story detached garage behind 172-27 91st Avenue around 6:20 a.m. and screamed, “You’re all going to die today.”

The indictment noted that shortly after, a witness inside the property came downstairs and found the building on fire. Ettienne, who was also inside, was alerted to the fire and briefly went downstairs. She then rushed back upstairs to try to save Jacobs, who was sleeping. Tragically, the flames quickly engulfed the building, preventing both Jacobs and Ettienne from escaping.

(Used under special arrangement with SAH)