Medical Examiner: Twins Died from Smoke Inhalation in North Braddock Fire

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's office has ruled that 3-year-old twins killed in a fire Friday on Rebecca Street in North Braddock died of smoke inhalation.

As of Sunday afternoon, the twins, whose names have been reported as Kyier and Dyier Arthur, had not been positively identified. The medical examiner's office cannot release the names until the twins are identified, a spokesperson said.

Whether their deaths will be ruled accidental or homicide is still pending investigation, according to a spokesperson from the medical examiner's office.

One twin died of smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning. The second twin suffered burns and smoke inhalation, though the actual cause of death is still pending, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the final determination on the cause of the fire and death should be available within a few days. Allegheny County homicide detectives and the Allegheny County Fire Marshal's Office are investigating the cause of the fire.

Relatives told WTAE-TV that the boys' mother, Delawna Berran-Lett, left the twins alone for a few minutes to find her teenage daughter, and when she returned home, the house was engulfed.

North Braddock Mayor Tom Whyel told Patch on Friday that the family had moved into the house recently.

Allegheny County 911 officials said the fire was reported at 3:31 p.m. Firefighters from North Braddock, Forest Hills and Edgewood responded to the scene, as did Priority One EMS and the Salvation Army. One Braddock firefighter sustained minor injuries.

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