Teen gets 40 years in prison for Denver house fire that killed 5 from Senegal

The five members of the Diol family who died in an August 2020 arson fire at their Green Valley Ranch home are pictured at a news conference held by Denver police Chief Paul Pazen on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, announcing the arrest of three teenagers on suspicion of first-degree murder in connection with the fire.

One of the teenagers involved in the Denver house fire that resulted in the deaths of five people, Gavin Seymour, was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Friday. The fire was reportedly started in revenge for a stolen cellphone mistakenly traced to the victims' home.

Amadou Beye, center, who lost his wife Hassan Doi, 25, and 6-month-old daughter Hawa Beye, reacts at the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse in Denver on Friday, March 15, 2024

Seymour, 19, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for his role in the August 5, 2020, fire that claimed the lives of five members of a Senegalese family. Denver District Court Judge Karen Brody handed down the maximum sentence, calling the tragedy incomprehensible and acknowledging the loss of innocent lives.

Two other teenagers, Kevin Bui and Dillon Siebert, were also charged in connection with the fire. Siebert received a combined juvenile detention and state prison sentence, while Bui, accused of being the ringleader, is awaiting trial on multiple first-degree murder charges.

19-year-old Gavin Seymour was sentenced to 40 years in prison Friday for starting a house fire that killed five members of a Senegalese family in Denver’s Green Valley Ranch neighborhood more than three years ago

The investigation into the fire was aided by a search warrant obtained from Google, which revealed accounts that had searched the victims' address prior to the incident. Bui, seeking revenge for a previous robbery, admitted to setting the fire but later realized the victims were not involved.

Seymour expressed remorse and apologized to the victims' family and community for his actions during his court appearance.

Officials investigate a house fire at 5312 Truckee Street in Denver after five people were killed inside on Aug. 5, 2020.