Man charged with murder in ‘deliberately set’ Winnipeg house fire that killed two women related to him

Winnipeg police allege a 30-year-old man deliberately set fire to a home, killing two people directly related to him, following a family dispute that happened shortly before.

Tyanaa Nattaway, 18, and Crystal Mary Ellen Beardy, 48, died in the Feb. 7 blaze at a home on Agnes Street. Both were members of Garden Hill First Nation who were living in Winnipeg.

Three other people were hospitalized; the Winnipeg Police Service did not have an update on their health during a Wednesday afternoon press conference.

The victims were among the 19 people who were inside the home when the porch outside was set on fire, according to WPS Cst. Claude Chancy.

Douglas Wayne Jr. Nattaway was arrested Tuesday and charged with second-degree murder and arson with disregard for human life. He was detained in custody. The allegations against him have not been tested in court.

Police allege Douglas Nattaway was inside the home during an altercation, though they could not provide details on the nature of the argument. They say the accused then left, came back with an incendiary device, and set the porch on fire.

“Regardless of what it was, whether it was verbal or physical, we want to bring attention to this, that this is not the way to settle any kind of dispute, whether it’s verbal or it’s physical,” said Chancy. “Certainly not by setting fire to a residence.”

Chancy says the alleged crime shows intent.

“The person being inside the house with the knowledge that there were multiple people in the house and deliberately setting a fire outside of the house,” the Winnipeg police constable said.

Friends of Tyanaa Nattaway told CityNews the 18-year-old was living in the home with her mother, siblings, and grandmother.

Winnipeg police could not confirm how many of the 19 people inside the home were actually living there, nor if the accused lived there.

Fire crews battled for nearly five hours to get the blaze under control. The house sustained significant damage from fire, smoke and water. Two neighbouring homes were evacuated as well.

“Both the fire department, fire investigations branch and Winnipeg police major crimes units, those units are overwhelmed with demand,” said Nick Kasper, president of United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg (UFFW). “And they work very closely on the huge number of arsons that we have in Winnipeg. And any time we can get a definitive cause from the fire investigations branch and a subsequent arrest from the major crimes unit, we’re thrilled.”

Chancy said it’s rare for murder charges to be laid in an arson investigation, although there have been some recent cases.

In September 2024, two people died in a building fire in the city’s St. John’s neighbourhood. A suspect was charged with second-degree murder.

An accused was also charged with second-degree murder after two people died while trying to flee an apartment fire in December 2022.