Investigators Interview Surviving Child
Young Victims Die In House Fire While Moms At Club, Police Say
UPDATED: 4:03 p.m. CDT October 7, 2003
YAZOO CITY, Miss. -- The sole survivor of a house fire was interviewed by investigators Tuesday, one day after five children died in the single story, wood-frame home while their mothers allegedly partied at a nightclub.
Alfred Williams Jr., 9, was treated and released from a hospital after being pulled from the burning house Monday.
Investigators believe the fire was the result of children playing with matches.
"Parents should put it up," Fire Marshall James Jackson said. "The child picks it up, plays with it. The mother -- especially when a kid gets a hurt like this case -- the mother is going to be at a fault."
Authorities said Williams and the other children -- Devunte Bell, 10, Takiesha Bell, 3, William Bell, 18 months, Kayla Williams, 7, and Tytianna Bell, 4 -- were left home alone.
Clara Bell, 27, and Eugenia Bell, 18, sisters and the mothers of the children, were charged with manslaughter and child neglect. They
remained in jail Tuesday.
Yazoo County Coroner Ricky Shivers said the five children died of smoke inhalation.
Fire Marshal Jimmy Jackson said the cause of the fire may be announced Wednesday. Jackson said he had talked with the survivor but wouldn't say what was discussed.
Funeral services for the children are tentatively scheduled for
Friday.
Alfred Williams Jr., 9, was treated and released from a hospital after being pulled from the burning house Monday.
Investigators believe the fire was the result of children playing with matches.
"Parents should put it up," Fire Marshall James Jackson said. "The child picks it up, plays with it. The mother -- especially when a kid gets a hurt like this case -- the mother is going to be at a fault."
Authorities said Williams and the other children -- Devunte Bell, 10, Takiesha Bell, 3, William Bell, 18 months, Kayla Williams, 7, and Tytianna Bell, 4 -- were left home alone.
Clara Bell, 27, and Eugenia Bell, 18, sisters and the mothers of the children, were charged with manslaughter and child neglect. They
remained in jail Tuesday.
Yazoo County Coroner Ricky Shivers said the five children died of smoke inhalation.
Fire Marshal Jimmy Jackson said the cause of the fire may be announced Wednesday. Jackson said he had talked with the survivor but wouldn't say what was discussed.
Funeral services for the children are tentatively scheduled for
Friday.
Copyright 2003 by TheJacksonChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
