California woman pleads guilty in 1993 arson that killed 7 children, 3 adults

LOS ANGELES (KTLA) -- A woman pleaded guilty to manslaughter Tuesday for an arson fire at a Westlake apartment building that killed 10 people, including seven children, in 1993, officials said.

Johanna Lopez, who has been in police custody since 2011, pleaded guilty to two counts of voluntary manslaughter, just two weeks after another defendant in the case also pled guilty for their role in the 1993 arson, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced Tuesday.

Four people, including Lopez, 54, Joseph Monge, 44, and Ramiro Valerio, 46, allegedly set a fire at an apartment complex in the 300 block of South Burlington Avenue on May 3, 1993, because they were upset that the manager of the complex wanted to curb drug deals that were taking place on the property, according to prosecutors.

The smoke from the flames spread through the complex, which was largely occupied by immigrants from Central America, and killed seven children and three women, two of whom were pregnant. Dozens of others were injured, officials said.