‘What We Remember Most’ : Porch transformed into memorial to five girls
Posted on Thursday, March 27, 2008
BENTONVILLE — Dozens of people transformed the porch of a home, in which five girls died in a house fire, into a makeshift memorial by leaving flowers, stuffed animals, hand-written notes — and five pennies.
The pennies, left head up, represent the five little girls, said the teen who left the coins.
Firefighters — who were called to the home at 1: 24 a. m. Tuesday — found the girls’ bodies in the upstairs portion of the residence at 402 S. W. B St.
The girls — Kristan Frazier, 13; Kimberly Frazier, 11; Katelyn Mahmens, 9; Kaila Frazier, 8; and Kiya Frazier, 5 — were pronounced dead at the scene.
The children’s parents — Jamie Dale Frazier and Karry A. Mahmens Frazier — escaped the home after being awakened by a smoke detector. They were unable to get upstairs to wake the girls because of overwhelming heat and smoke, Bentonville Police Chief Dan White said.
Kristan was a seventh-grader at Lincoln Junior High School. Kimberly was in the fifth grade at Ruth Hale Barker Middle School. Katelyn, Kaila and Kiya attended Sugar Creek Elementary School: Katelyn a thirdgrader, Kaila a first-grader and Kiya in kindergarten.
A cork bulletin board — “ What We Remember Most About Them ” — stands on the porch so people can share their memories of the children.
“ Remember these girls as nothing less than pure angels, ” is written near the bottom.
“ You guys are sweet and you are in our prayers. Kim, I miss you so much. The whole school is praying for you. ” The note was written by a schoolmate.
“ Kristen’s laughs. 4 little girls smiling” — another handwritten note read.
Someone left a card with pink and white ribbons that reads, “ We wear pink for 5 little girls. We wear white for the innocents lost. ”
A pink and white ribbon was tied around each of two white columns on the porch.
One woman brought flowers and placed a necklace with a white cross around the flowers. Her daughter attended school with one of the girls.
Some people drove up and stopped in the front of the house. Then they drove away.
“ I just think it’s so tragic, ” Barbara Cassity said when she stopped by the house to pay her respect to the children. “ It breaks my heart. ”
Cassity remembers seeing the children in the neighborhood. She described the girls as pretty and full of life.
“ Five daughters — I’m the mother of four daughters, ” Cassity said. “ I can’t imagine losing one of mine — much less all of them. ”
The Frazier family has been touched by the community response, said Brad Karren, an attorney who represents the Frazier family.
“ The Frazier family would like to thank the community for their caring response and the outpouring of concern during this very difficult time, ” Karren said in a press release issued Wednesday. “ We appreciate all of the help from volunteers, neighbors, friends and families throughout Benton County. We would also like to thank the many firefighters who fought bravely to save our dear children.
“ Their courage and efforts will never be forgotten, ” Karren said. “ Again, thank you for your thoughts, prayers and continuing help during this time of devastation. ”
The cause of the fire has not been determined. Fire officials suspect that it was an accidental fire. A space heater found in the upstairs area was sent to the Arkansas Crime Laboratory.
White said he expects results from the Crime Lab will not be available anytime soon.
Police found a small amount of marijuana and methamphetamine in the home.
Police did attain a court order Tuesday to have blood drawn from the parents for testing.
During Tuesday’s press conference, Bentonville Police Chief James Allen said police did not obtain blood from the parents immediately following the fire.
Firefighters found the remnants of a smoke detector upstairs but did not find any batteries. White said he received word that there may have been other smoke detectors upstairs, but firefighters were unable to find them because of the damage.
Fire officials recommend that people change the batteries in smoke detectors twice a year. The easiest way to remember when, they said, is to change the batteries when daylightsaving time changes.
“ Smoke detectors are wonderful pieces of technology, but they need batteries in order to work, ” White said. “ Otherwise, they are just something hanging on the ceiling. ”
Anyone needing a smoke detector, White said, should call 271-3151. Call the same number to make a donation to the Fire Department to purchase smoke detectors.
Family members, friends, classmates and some strangers were among the dozens who stopped by the home to leave a remembrance or just to pay their respects.
Brian Neisen also came to the burned house with his wife, Angelic, and their two children — Brian Neisen and Michaila McCall. They brought flowers and a small teddy bear.
“ It’s just a tragedy, ” the father said.
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