Mayaro arsonist Ramsaran Kowlessar was discovered dead at the Eastern Correctional Rehabilitation Centre in Santa Rosa, Arima, on Monday.
Kowlessar, aka Goutie, was charged with eight counts of attempted murder and one count of arson after he set fire to his neighbour's home.
Among those hurt in the fire was Anisha Bahadoor, 34, a mother of two, who suffered second-degree burns to her legs.
Her two children, ages nine and four, her 52-year-old mother Sharon, 71-year-old father Peter, 33-year-old brother Amit Bahadoor, 27-year-old Avinash Bahadoor, and Anisha’s nine-month-old baby, escaped serious injury.
After being charged, Kowlessar was denied bail when he appeared virtually before Mayaro Magistrate Debby Ann Bassaw. He was not called upon to plead to the charges.
A source who requested anonymity said Kowlessar was brought to the ECRC last week after he was denied bail. He had burns to his body, which were bandaged.
Kowlessar had told police he had no intentions of spending the rest of his life in prison. Police are investigating the killing as one possibly caused by self-harm.
Kowlessar reportedly had been in a depressed and aggressive state following the death of his wife.
Guardian Media will bring you more on this story as details unfold.