'They were angels': Ohio community mourns 'sweet' family of six who tragically died in house fire
NEWCOMERSTOWN, OHIO: Six bodies were reportedly discovered following an early-morning fire in an eastern Ohio residence. According to the Tuscarawas County coroner's office, firefighters were called to the house in the village of Newcomerstown at around 1:30 am on Monday, December 26, 2022, after which bodies of 6 victims were extricated from the building.
Tuscarawas County investigator Todd Stanley said the names would be made public after identification was confirmed. However, according to the neighbors, Leroy Elliott Jr, Terrin Hendricks, and their four daughters, Alyssa, Abigail, Ariel, and Addison, ages 5 to 14, lived in the house, according to Fox8. Community members and loved ones are already mourning the loss of the entire family.
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The family's neighbor Rhonda Shaffer reported seeing the flames as she was leaving to drive a relative to the airport at 1:45 am. She said she frequently saw the family's children riding bikes around the neighborhood, as reported by Canton Rep. "It's devastating if they all died," she said, adding, "Sweet little kids."
David Schwab, another neighbor, woke to see emergency personnel on the street. "It was pretty well engulfed when the fire department got here," he said. Later, the two-story house fell, he said. Emergency teams worked to clear the area. By early afternoon on Monday, workers had demolished most of the burned-out house.
"All the children, they were angels. They’re, the family, they were amazing people," neighbor and extended family member Adrianna Clay told Fox8. "It was just tragic. There’s no other words for it. I couldn’t do anything," said her mother Kitty Clay. Kitty and her daughter Adrianna live right next door to the victim's home on Spaulding Avenue. "I was down in the basement and it was about 1 am and it was a loud boom. I came running upstairs and I thought someone had just broke into my house. I came running upstairs and the entire side of the house was engulfed in red flames," Adrianna said.
"The fire started between 12:30 and 1:00 and by 2:30, the house was on the ground," said Kitty, adding, "Alyssa Rain was my little shining star. She was since the day she was born. Abigail and Ariel and Addison, they were the most beautiful little girls. Very loving, very caring. The mother, she had a heart of gold. I mean, the children did no wrong. If you needed something, Terrin was there. Leroy was the greatest father to their children. He would have done anything to protect those babies and I know for a fact that he went down fighting to protect those kids," said Adrianna. "I stood there and I watched. I made sure they got our angels out safely, to be in the hands of God and to be able to lay them to rest," said Kitty. According to the neighbors, the family’s dogs died in the fire too.
In a statement, Newcomerstown Ma.yor Patrick Cadle said, "We would like to thank all those fire companies, police, and equipment companies for their help with this tragic fire. Even with the intense cold temperatures they stayed throughout the night and morning. Our community is saddened with this tragedy and loss of life."
Autopsies are to be done in Cuyahoga County.