The fiery details regarding the Arson Duplex of Toledo. A gruesome story in flames.

This news article will cover the disturbing and gruesome history behind the Arson Duplex of Toledo. Everything will be explained in explicit detail about how this duplex attracts arsonists.

Over the years this duplex has attracted arsonists due to being located in a remote location being tucked between Anthony Wayne Trail and I 75. The duplex was torched by arsonists several times and was set on fire more than thrice. The duplex being abandoned is what also attracted arsonists.


The story of how the duplex became the Arson Duplex of Toledo began in 2012 with 17 year old Cheyenne Cherry when she illegally entered her friend Hernandez’s duplex at 721 Vinton Street. Cheyenne Cherry ransacked the place and allegedly threw Valerie’s kitten Tiger Lilly into the oven with the gas turned up. The fire apparently began near a bedroom. Neighbors reported smells of smoke and thought it was one of the neighbors burning food. Neighbors were shocked to discover the smells of smoke came from a burning kitten. (Ref: https://brooklyn.news12.com/bronx-teen-accused-of-roasting-kitten-34820181)

Cheyenne Cherry was found guilty of animal cruelty among the several charges brought against her in court. She admitted to the ASPCA that she roasted her friend’s kitten to death in an oven. The Bronx teen was sentenced to 10 years in prison. This left this duplex to be abandoned for a little while.


The incident attracted an arsonist whom was a young 4 year old boy. A 4 year old boy started a bedroom fire on the duplex at 721 Vinton Street in Toledo’s Old South End on the Friday night of October 19, 2012. Fire crew were immediately called to the scene. The children were immediately taken to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center aka St. Vincent's Hospital shortly after the fire at a duplex at 721 Vinton Street near Collingwood Boulevard and the Anthony Wayne Trail. The 4 year old boy died and a 2-year-old girl was hospitalized following a duplex fire. (Ref: https://nbc24.com/news/local/toledo-fire-kills-one-child-another-toddler-injured)

The Toledo Blade newspaper reported that the duplex fire was believed to have been started in a bedroom. (Ref: https://www.toledoblade.com/Police-Fire/2012/10/19/Two-people-injured-during-duplex-fire-on-Vinton-Street-in-Toledo-s-Old-South-End/stories/feed/index.rss)

On October 20, 2012, local authorities on the scene have confirmed that a 4-year-old boy has died in a house fire. So apparently the 4 year old boy had been playing with lighters and matches which led the duplex to become uninhabitable. (Ref: https://www.wtol.com/article/news/4-year-old-boy-dead-in-south-toledo-house-fire/512-df4940dc-d5c4-4fb7-ac03-c17c8579937b)

Here is how the 4 year old boy died. The 4 year old boy died from smoke inhalation during the bedroom fire. Autopsy results confirmed the 4-year-old boy died from smoke inhalation. (Ref: https://www.toledoblade.com/local/police-fire/2012/10/20/Boy-4-died-from-smoke-inhalation-during-house-fire-Friday-in-Old-South-End/stories/20121020176)

A news article written by the Toledo Blade under the caption of “Boy, 4, died from smoke inhalation during house fire Friday in Old South End” revealed the name of the 4 year old boy who started the duplex fire. Taevion Maulsby was the 4 year old boy who started the duplex fire. The duplex he set fire to belonged to his aunt. (Ref: Toledo Blade, Boy, 4, died from smoke inhalation during house fire Friday in Old South End)

“Taevion Maulsby was pronounced dead at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center where he was taken after a fire in a bedroom of the upstairs apartment of a duplex at 721 Vinton St. near Collingwood Boulevard and the Anthony Wayne Trail.”

[Fire Lt. Matthew Hertzfeld said crews received the call about 7:30 p.m. as a “pediatric unconscious” and upon arrival found the two children and a woman on the front porch. He said firefighters did not know there was a fire until they saw the smoke. Lieutenant Hertzfeld said he did not know if the woman was injured.]

The duplex fire ignited by Taevion Maulsby did $10,000 dollars worth of damage. “Damage to the residence was estimated at $10,000.” (Ref: https://www.toledoblade.com/local/police-fire/2012/10/23/Girl-2-shows-improvement-from-injuries-in-fire-Friday/stories/20121022240)

Deputy Lucas County coroner Dr. Cynthia Beisser, said preliminary findings indicate the fire might have been started by children playing with matches. (Ref: https://www.toledoblade.com/local/police-fire/2012/10/20/Boy-4-died-from-smoke-inhalation-during-house-fire-Friday-in-Old-South-End/stories/20121020176)

[The cause of the fire is unclear, although preliminary findings indicated the fire might have been caused by children playing with matches, according to the Lucas County Coroner's Office.]

The aunt along with her family had move out and relocate elsewhere as the duplex was no longer inhabitable. The fire made living conditions unsafe. Her moving away is what led to the entire duplex to become abandoned.

Over the years this duplex had attracted arsonists due to the remote location being tucked between Anthony Wayne Trail and I 75. The duplex was torched in 2014 and again in 2015. The duplex being abandoned is what also attracted arsonists.


The duplex at 721 Vinton Street was put on the Current Sheriff's Sale List from 07/01/2019 to 07/31/2019. The duplex was put for a $12,290.20 bid with a $1,230.00 dollar deposit. (Ref: https://co.lucas.oh.us/Archive.aspx?ADID=780)

The duplex at 721 Vinton Street was put on the Forfeited Land Sale List on the date of 10/24/2019 for an appraised value of $21,100 dollars. Much higher than the original $12,290.20 bid from the Current Sheriff's Sale List from 07/01/2019 to 07/31/2019. (Ref: https://co.lucas.oh.us/DocumentCenter/View/75260/2019-Forfeited-Land-Sale-List)

On the date of 10/03/2019, the current sheriff transferred the duplex property over to Lucas County Land Reutilization Corporation. The Toledo Blade recorded the transaction under “Forfeited Land to Lucas County Land Reutilization Corporation, 721 Vinton St, Toledo, $0, (10/03)” The house had been already long abandoned prior to the transaction. (Ref: https://www.toledoblade.com/business/real-estate/2019/10/11/real-estate-transfers-sept-30-oct-4/stories/20191011088)

Now this duplex was sold due to a delinquent tax foreclosure case called W. Kapszukiewicz, Treasurer vs. JOSHUA R MILLIMEN, ET AL. Joshua R. Millimen, then-current owner of the duplex property, had unpaid delinquent taxes. So an order of sale was issued by the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas for taxes, penalties, interest, costs and other charges incurred in the proceedings. A public auction at the door of the Court House in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio on July, 25 2019 at 10:00 am. (Ref: https://www.toledolegalnews.com/taxsale/details/id/302895)

The Arson Duplex of Toledo is located at 721 Vinton Street, Toledo, Ohio, US 43609.