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PROVO — A Provo woman accused of starting an apartment fire that left two women dead will have a court hearing about her mental competency.
Yvette Kimber, 45, is charged in 4th District Court with two counts of murder and one count of arson, all first-degree felonies, in connection with the March 14 blaze.
At a court hearing Wednesday, a competency hearing was ordered for Kimber, who initially told police she dropped a cigarette while smoking and "did not know" if she had started the fire intentionally in an attempt to kill herself.
Kimber was initially charged with manslaughter, but the charges were increased to murder after an investigation showed a number of accelerants may have been used in the fire, according to police. Kimber allegedly made several attempts to purposely set her apartment on fire. When she finally succeeded, she realized she had made a mistake, jail records state, but by then it was too late.
Each charge carries a possible penalty of life in prison.
Karen Murray and Catherine Crane were killed and another woman hospitalized following the fire, which took place at the Boulders Apartments, 750 S. 650 West.
Court records show Kimber has a criminal history in the state. Just last November, she graduated from mental health court in connection with a shoplifting case.
The competency review hearing has been set for June 1.
Email:emorgan@ksl.com
