patching...
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Fatal Fire

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Mother of Twins Killed in Fire Waives Preliminary Hearing

Authorities say the boys turned on a burner on a grease-covered stove, which ignited the grease, spreading the fire through the house.

Delawna Berran-Lett, the North Braddock mother whose twin sons perished in a fire earlier this month, waived her right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday on two counts each of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child. WTAE-TV reports that Berran-Lett left her 3-year-old sons, Ky'heir and Dy'heir Arthur, alone for about an hour, according to Allegheny County homicide detectives, while she went to look for her teenage daughter. Berran-Lett was angry because she thought the daughter had taken marijuana from her purse, District Attorney Stephen Zappala said. Allegheny County fire marshals found that the fatal house fire on Jan. 4 began in a stove. The boys turned on a burner on a grease-covered …

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Twins' Mother Surrenders to Allegheny County Police Tuesday Evening

Delawna Berran-Lett faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child in fatal North Braddock fire.

Mother of Twins Killed in Fire Expected to Turn Herself In Tuesday

She will face two counts each of involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of children.

Friday, January 18, 2013

North Braddock Fire: DA Says Mom Left Twins to Search for Her Drugs

The fire killed 3-year-old twin boys two weeks ago.

A criminal complaint is being prepared against the mother of twin boys who died two weeks ago in a fatal fire in North Braddock. According to WTAE-TV, District Attorney Stephen Zappala said Friday that Allegheny County fire marshals found that the fatal house fire on Jan. 4 started in a stove. The mother, who was ot home when the fire broke out, had told relatives she had just stepped out for a short period to look for her teenage daughter. An ongoing investigation by county homicide detectives shows that the mother was gone for almost an hour, WTAE-TV reports. The mother suspected her daughter took some marijuana from her purse, and when the girl didn't come home after school, she went out in search of the teen, Zappala said. Zappala said…

Friday, January 11, 2013

Funeral Services Set Saturday for Twins Killed in North Braddock Fire

Family members seek donations to help pay for funeral expenses.

Funeral services are set for Saturday for the twin 3-year-old boys who perished last Friday in a blaze in their North Braddock home. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports a spokesman for the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that dental records were used Tuesday to establish the identities of the boys as Ky‘Heir D. Arthur and Dy‘Heir Arthur. According to the Trib, investigators have said that Dy‘Heir died of burns and smoke inhalation. He was found in the kitchen on the first floor in the rear of the house. His twin, Ky‘Heir, who died of smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning, was found in a second-floor bedroom. WPXI-TV is reporting that family members are seeking donations to help pay for the funeral expenses. …

chell

2:33 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013

She has not been charged yet still walking the earrh free as if nothing happened   more ›

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Fatal North Braddock Fire Investigation Turned Over to County Police

The investigation into the fire that killed twin 3-year-old boys is ongoing.

The Allegheny County Fire Marshal's Office has finished its investigation into the origin and cause of Friday's fire in a home on Rebecca Street in North Braddock. "The results of that investigation have been turned over to the Allegheny County Police, which is the lead agency on this investigation," Allegheny County Emergency Services Chief Alvin Henderson said in a statement released Tuesday. "Because of the ongoing investigation, there will be no further information or comment provided at this time.” The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's office ruled that 3-year-old twins killed in a fire Friday on Rebecca Street in North Braddock died of smoke inhalation. A spokesperson at the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's office said Sunday …

Sunday, January 6, 2013

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

The 3-year-old boys perished in a blaze at a home on Rebecca Street on Friday.

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. …

Friday, January 4, 2013

North Braddock Fire Claims Twin 3-Year-Old Boys on Rebecca Street

Firefighters battled a fatal house fire on Rebecca Street Friday afternoon.

A Friday afternoon fire on Rebecca Street in North Braddock has claimed the lives of twin 3-year-old boys. The children, reportedly identified as Kyier and Dyier Arthur, were found dead in the structure, KDKA-TV is reporting. KDKA quoted police sources as saying the children’s mother was not at home when the fire started. KDKA also reported that the source of fire appeared to be on the first floor. North Braddock Mayor Tom Whyel told Patch the family had just 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 firefighter sustained minor injuries. Rebecca …

Mary

8:42 pm on Friday, January 4, 2013

Poor babies, may they rest in peace. They were probably terrified.   more ›

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Woodland Hills Midget Football Honors Swissvale Fire Victim

Rayseun Hall's family is honored with his jersey at ceremony last Sunday at the Wolvarena.

It's been just a little more than 11 months since Rayseun Hall died in a Swissvale house fire. As a youth, he enjoyed spending fall days playing football with the Woodland Hills Midget Football Association. Hall had played with the Midgets until an accident left him confined to a wheelchair when he was 12 years old. "Rayseun played for the organization for years," said Richard Jordan, vice president of the Midget football association. The organization honored him Sunday by presenting his family with his "25" jersey during a ceremony at the Woodland Hills Wolvarena in Turtle Creek. Hall died Nov. 12, 2011 when fire struck his home at 7543 Calumet St. in Swissvale. Multiple fire departments, including Swissvale, responded to the apartment …

jessica

7:39 pm on Thursday, October 18, 2012

This wonderful to hear. I lived right behind this family and witness the fire and was just heartbroken to hear the young boy will killed. My son was good friends with keyshawn who also lived in the home. It was a devastating day in our neighborhood. It is nice to see he was honored.   more ›

Got a Hot Tip?