Investigation Into Murder of Pregnant Mother, Young Daughter Continuing

Investigators reported back to the crime scene at the Avalon Court Apartment Complex on Bristol-Oxford Valley Road in Bristol Township Tuesday morning to continue the investigation into a double homicide and fire likely set to try to cover killer’s tracks.

Bucks County District Attorney District Attorney David Heckler gave a briefing about the double homicide investigation late Monday night at the apartment complex.

According to the county’s top lawman, 4-year-old R’Mani and her mother, Ebony Talley, 22, were found stabbed in an apartment after fire crews responded to a reported fire in Apt 604.

“We’re cautiously optimistic we will get this solved,” Heckler said, however, adding he would not “speculate” as to specific timetable for solving the two alleged murders.

Heckler wouldn’t comment on whether or not investigators have a person of interest at this time and also would not comment on whether or not Talley has a significant other in her life.

Police and firefighters responding to scene upon entering  the 22-year-old’s apartment found the woman with “various injuries including multiple stab wounds on the floor of the apartment,” Heckler said, adding R’Mani was stabbed at least once and suffered from various injuries at what a source described to LevittowNow.com as a “violent scene.”

PHOTOS: Double Murder Investigation in Bristol Twp.

The young girl later was pronounced dead at St. Marys Medical Center in Middletown.

Heckler said he wasn’t “100 percent sure” about reports of Talley being with child. He did acknowledge he had heard those reports too saying he would wait until the Bucks County Coroner’s office completed the post-mortem examination he wouldn’t offer a conclusive response to the question.

Several family members and friends of Talley’s told LevittownNow.com she was expecting.

Reported discrepancies with regards to Talley’s living arrangements  were cleared up by Heckler. He noted  Talley was subletting the apartment she was found in from a woman who is currently out of the country.

Residents of the community are shocked  about the alleged arson-double homicide.

“It sounds fishy,” Marquis Johnson, a friend of the 22-year-old victim, said. “It sounds like they were set up or something.”

“She was a good person. She took care of her daughter,” Dani Hodges, a cousin of Talley’s, said.

Fire crews were called to the apartment complex on Bristol-Oxford Valley Road at around 3:30 p.m. They arrived to find heavy smoke conditions and were able to contain the blaze in a few minutes. Emergency radio reports indicated that people may have been trapped and a short time later it was confirmed at least one person was found dead and the 4-year-old was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

Video exclusively obtained by LevittownNow.com shows white smoke pouring from an apartment on the ground floor. Investigators are aware of the video and have viewed it, sources say.

Heckler said he expected the coroner’s office to complete their work sometime Tuesday.

Detectives and fire investigators from Bristol Township were joined Thursday after dark by county detectives at the complex, which was lit by large police vehicles and fire trucks at the tree lined complex on Bristol-Oxford Valley Road.

Authorities would not say what room of the apartment the fire was started or the rooms where the mother and daughter were found. Heckler said the crime scene was small and afforded little space for detectives to take 3D computer-aided measurements.

The local Red Cross is helping six people displaced by the fire, an official said.

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