Bail set for man charged in deadly Walmart fire

Published 9:12 pm Thursday, August 8, 2019

ANOKA — Bail has been set at $100,000 for a California man charged with causing a deadly van fire while camping in a Minnesota Walmart parking lot.

Prosecutors said the carelessness of 70-year-old Roberto Lino Hipolito, of Long Beach, California, was to blame for Tuesday’s fire in the Minneapolis suburb of Fridley that killed 6-year-old Ty’rah White and critically injured 9-year-old Taraji White.

Authorities said Hipolito put a hot camp stove in his van without enough time to cool, and the resulting fire spread to an adjacent van where the girls were alone while their mother shopped.

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Hipolito made his first court appearance Thursday on charges of second-degree manslaughter and negligent fire. He’s due back in court Sept. 5.

The girls’ mother, Essie McKenzie, said Taraji is still fighting for her life.