Woman pleads guilty to helping boyfriend escape after New Orleans house fire deaths of three children
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — A woman pled guilty on Monday to helping her then-boyfriend escape after he set a house on fire in New Orleans East that left his three children dead in 2023.
Shanyka Phillips pled guilty to two charges of accessory after the fact. She was indicted on March 14 after helping her then-boyfriend Joseph Washington escape and obstruct the investigation.
Phillips cried while she was at the stand and during witness testimony. Later in court, she was attacked by Angel Dounseroux.
Several Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies had to break the fight up, and Phillips was escorted out of the courtroom.
While handcuffed, Dounseroux cried, saying she took the kids to practices and even brought them to get haircuts.
Before the attack, the judge strictly reminded the family to contain themselves, as a family member had also attacked Washington on the day of his sentencing.
Dounseroux was taken into custody. It’s unclear if the judge held her in contempt of court.
Due to the attack, the court was adjourned and will continue on Aug. 15, when Phillips will be sentenced.
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The Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office announced Washington’s indictment by a grand jury on March 7 for three counts of first-degree murder and obstruction of justice.
Shanyka Phillips (Courtesy: Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office) Joseph Washington (Courtesy: Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office)
On Oct. 18, 2023, the New Orleans Police Department received a call from the children’s mother who told them about a possible fire at her home in the 4900 block of America Street set by Washington.
The mother, who was not home at the time, told the New Orleans Fire Department that Washington had intentions of burning down her home. When firefighters arrived, they were told that three children were trapped inside.
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The flames were extinguished, and the body of 3-year-old Avery Washington was discovered. 5-year-old Jayla Washington and 8-year-old Joseph Washington were taken to a hospital where they later died.
Security cameras on a nearby home captured the moment the fire started. The home has since been torn down.
On April 11, Washington pled guilty to the charges.
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