Linden Fire: Siblings, aunt died from smoke inhalation

Autopsies performed on the remains of two sisters, Angelique and Ronika Lawrence, and their aunt, Zella Lawrence who perished in the Christmas Day fire in Linden, Region 10 revealed that they died as a result of smoke inhalation.

This was confirmed by Police Commander of Region Ten, Guy Nurse who told the News Room of the results after the autopsies were conducted on Wednesday.

As the investigation continues, Fire Chief Gregory Wickham said investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fire.

The fire occurred around 02:00hrs on December 25 at Zella’s Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden living quarters.

In a press release, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) had said that upon arrival at the scene, firefighters managed to contain the blaze to the bottom floor of the building.

The bodies of the girls, 8 and 16, and their aunt was discovered in the bathroom area of the house.

Sixteen-year-old Angelique and eight-year-old Ronika had accompanied their mother, Onika Lawrence to the mining town to spend time with their relatives for the Christmas holiday.

In an interview with the News Room, Onika said Zella collected the children on Saturday and took them to her place so they could enjoy the holidays.

“My third daughter…came to me and said that Angelique and Ronika gone with aunt Kezzy…that is when I know they left…I said is they aunt and they will come back in the morning,” Onika said.

Around 02:00hrs Christmas morning, her other sister received a call informing her of the fire at Zella’s place.

“She start panicking….I said let me go get my phone and call. When I called Kezzy first, the call didn’t connect…I start calling my daughter phone but it keep ringing out…I said if it was a fire the phones wouldn’t have been ringing,” Onika related.

According to Onika, they decided to venture to the Zella’s place.

Upon arrival, she said she noticed the fire tender and police vehicle at the scene.

“When I got there the house was in complete darkness….I notice the police and firemen there…Everybody just in the yard. I tried to approach the officers and they stopped me,” she said.

Up to that point, Onika told the News Room that she had hope that they were in the building and was waiting to be rescued.

“I waited and waited until some other police came…They went in…I noticed a lil while after the hearse came and then is when I realised that they gone,” she added.

Onika said that the incident had left her devastated.

“It’s very hard at this moment….I never imagined that we come up to spend Christmas with the family and I woulda just lose my kids and my sister,” she cried.