Hundreds Mourn Young Children Who Died in Row House Fire(AP) - A river of tears flowed and questions continued to be asked as Black folks gathered Saturday in Pittsburgh to remember five innocent children.
Five hearses brought two white, two pink and one blue casket to Pittsburgh's Mount Ararat Baptist Church. They held the bodies of Daekia Holyfield, 7; Cedano Holyfield, 4; Dezekiah Holyfield, 3; Azquel Rankin, 5; and Andre Rankin, 6.
The Rev. William H. Curtis said in his eulogy that despite the controversy surrounding the children's deaths, now is not the time for blame.
"What does it matter? Five angels have died," Curtis said. "Who cares what happened and how it happened ... it is our children who died."
The church is not far from where officials say Tuesday's blaze began after children playing with matches set fire to furnishings in the living room on the second floor.
The five children died from smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning. Two 8-year-old boys escaped uninjured.
Investigators are still tryng to determine whether they were left alone or in the care of a baby sitter. Police said they were told the children were left in the care of a 17-year-old baby sitter while their mothers went out for the night.
Police, however, haven't located her and have said longtime residents told them they know of no one who fits the description given by one of the dead children's mothers.
There is clearly more to this Pennsylvania case than authorities are letting on. First, why does no one know who this alleged baby sitter is? Who are the parents of the babysitter?
Why were the mothers out after 1:00am on a weekday and possibly a school night.
MOST GLARING - WHERE ARE THE BABY DADDIES?!??!!!