In 2012, 43-year-old Melanie Jane Smith lived in Prestatyn, Denbighshire, Wales. She was in a relationship with Stephen Clarkson, but things were falling apart because Smith believed Clarkson was having an affair with another woman.
On top of her relationship issues, Smith had problems with her neighbor, 20-year-old Lee-Anna Shiers. She thought Shiers was untidy and noisy, and there had been some conflict over a baby chair, other things left in the hallway, and cigarette butts dropped by the front door.
On October 19, 2012, Smith heard Shiers and her boyfriend, 23-year-old Liam Timbrell, having sex. She was jealous, so she set the baby’s chair on fire in the hallway.
The fire got out of hand, so Smith and Clarkson escaped the home.
Shiers, Timbrell, their 15-month-old Charlie, and Shiers’s four-year-old nephew and 2-year-old niece all died in the fire.
Smith was convicted of 5 murders and sentenced to 30 years to life in prison.
DOB:
1969Conviction(s):
- Murder (5 counts)
- Making threats of arson
Date of crime:
October 19, 2012Location(s):
Prestatyn, Denbighshire, Wales, UKDate of arrest:
Same DayDetails:
Killed 5 people in a fire.Confirmed Victim(s):
- Lee-Anna Shiers (20)
- Liam Timbrell (23)
- Charlie (1)
- Bailey (4)
- Skye (2)
Method:
ArsonMotive(s):
JealousySentence:
30 years to lifeCurrent whereabouts:
Unknown prisonLast Updated on 03/17/2026
