Woman is charged with MURDER after mum and two boys are killed in horrific Queensland house fire
A woman has been charged with murder after three people including two young boys died in a house fire in Gladstone last week.
Contessa Leigh Marie Richardson, 37, has been charged with three counts of murder and two counts of arson following the fire in Central Queensland on October 15.
Jordana Johnson, her son Jordan Norris, 13, and his friend Chazz Mather, 13, were killed when a fire broke out at a home on Whiting Street in Toolooa, shortly before 6am on Wednesday.
It’s alleged Richardson was spotted in Whiting Street shortly after the blaze, before she was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
It’s understood she had been staying with Ms Johnson at the time of the fire.
Richardson has remained in hospital since the fire and was formally charged on Friday.
The blaze was so severe it took emergency services several hours to find their bodies due to the ferocity of the flames and the extent of the damage.
Devastated loved ones have since flocked online to pay tribute to the mother and two children after their lives were tragically cut short.
Jordana Johnson, her son Jordan Norris, 13, and his friend Chazz Mather, 13, were killed when a fire broke out at a home on Whiting Street in Toolooa, shortly before 6am on Wednesday
Chazz Mather, 13, was staying at the Gladstone home when the fierce blaze took hold
Jordana’s son Jordan Norris (pictured) was also killed in the fire
Chazz’s older sister Tia said she cannot believe he is gone.
‘You left this world way too early – just 13 years old, wanting to become a professional footy player, trying to chase your dreams,’ she said.
‘I can’t believe this happened my bro. You had your whole life ahead of you.
‘I love you endlessly. You will forever be in my heart.’
Ms Johnson’s niece said she is going to miss her so much and described the trio as ‘three beautiful souls taken from us too soon’.
Friends of the two boys said they are still reeling in shock over their sudden deaths.
‘Oh my brothers, I can’t put into words how much I love and miss you both so much,’ one mate wrote.
‘You put so much happiness in this f***ed up world and now that you have both left, it’s gone. I wish I could hug you one last time.’
Contessa Leigh Marie Richardson, 37, has been charged with three counts of murder, and two counts of arson following deadly October 15 fire
Friends of the two boys said they are still reeling in shock over their sudden deaths
The Daily Mail understands Ms Johnson was a mother-of-three.
Neighbours have described her as a ‘lovely lady’ and ‘good mother’.
Firefighters arrived to find the home fully ablaze and spent 90 minutes extinguishing the flames.
They were unable to get inside the property for several hours after the top storey collapsed during the blaze.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were seen going through the smouldering remains, where the bodies of a woman and two boys were later found.
‘Obviously it is a tragic event,’ Chief Superintendent Luke Peachey said.
Toolooa is 5.6km south of Gladstone and home to a population of 992, according to the 2021 Census.
Richardson is expected to face a bedside hearing on Friday.
