Man charged with double murder after Middlesbrough house fire

A 23-year-old man has been charged with two counts of murder following a house fire in Middlesbrough that killed a seven-year-old girl and her aunt. Jaden Wright, of no fixed address, faces additional charges of grievous bodily harm with intent and attempted grievous bodily harm with intent in connection with the blaze that claimed the lives of Natalie McDonald, 34, and her niece, Valentina Foster. The fire occurred at a property on Birchington Avenue in the Grangetown area of Middlesbrough in the early hours of August 26. Emergency services responded to reports of the blaze at 5:23 a.m. that day. Four other people were injured in the incident. Cleveland Police confirmed the charges on Tuesday, September 1. Wright is scheduled to appear at Teesside Magistrates' Court later the same day. A 31-year-old man who was also arrested in connection with the case was released without charge on Sunday, August 30. As of Friday, August 28, a 48-year-old woman injured in the fire remained at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in a critical but stable condition. A 27-year-old man was receiving treatment at James Cook University Hospital.