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December 24, 2009 in City
Bones found at Curlew apartment fire site
Children, grandmother missing
Ferry County fire investigators found bones in the rubble of a devastating apartment fire in Curlew in which two children and their grandmother are presumed dead.
Officials declined to comment on the remains recovered from the site Wednesday, saying that a forensic anthropologist will have to examine the bones to determine whether they are human.
Ferry County officials confirmed that at least three people were missing in the blaze, which started about 1 a.m. Tuesday. Two others were injured, including Amanda Ryken, 22, the mother of the two children feared dead, said John Ryken, Amanda Ryken’s husband and the children’s father. Kelly Brown, Ryken’s mother, is also presumed dead, he said.
Amanda Ryken is in critical but stable condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, the family said.
John Ryken said he is separated from his wife, and that she and their daughters, Gail, 2, and Helen, 3, were living with Ryken’s mother in the building, known locally as the Old Curlew School.
“We were in the process of trying to reconcile things when the fire happened,” Ryken said Wednesday. “I was supposed to come today and spend Christmas with my kids and stay until New Year’s.”
Ryken said officials have not yet confirmed that the remains are those of his children. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
“They went into the building today and they rummaged through what they figured was an upstairs bedroom and found a lot of bone remains,” Ryken said. “Some look like they were human, some were smaller than others.”
Ryken said funeral arrangements for his daughters and his mother-in-law will be made once a positive identification has been made.
“You never expect to bury your children,” he said. “Kids that young should never have to die.”
The landmark building, at the corner of Boulder Creek and Curlew School roads, has been on the National Register of Historic Places for nearly 30 years. It was converted to residences several years ago. The fire is said to have forced at least 30 people from their homes.
The building is owned by Joe Abraham. His wife is Ferry County Superior Court Judge Rebecca Baker. Abraham is traveling and was not available for comment this week.
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melissaturner2009 on December 24 at 3:53 a.m.
john you have been my best friend for 11 years. we've been through so much together but we never could have prepared ourselves for this one. ive always told you that you are a truly amazing man, you are my best friend, and i love you. if you could see yourself from my perspective right now you would understand why you are so amazing.
as i sit here in spokane waiting for your phone calls, i am watching the news on every channel and reading and re-reading every word that is said about this whether it be comments from readers- letters from family and friends- news stories- or text messages and praying that any future news will only be good news. it amazes me that through all of this you are still so strong. i know that this is killing you but anyone else in your situation would have gone off the deep end.
gail and helen love you and they know you love them. you and amanda just have to remember that they are watching you every second of every day. and no matter if they are in your arms, hundreds of miles away, or in the arms of jesus they feel your love. you are the most amazing man, best friend, and father that ive ever met, and john, you are truly my hero. i love you and you are constantly in my prayers, and the prayers of our friends and family, and even the prayers of complete strangers.
we're all going to get through this. keep your head up sweetheart. dont you ever even think about giving up. everything is going to be alright. you just worry about taking care of you and amanda right now. ill handle things over here and do my part. im only a phone call away if you need ANYTHING at all. we have to keep eachother updated. i promise that ill try to be there soon.
Love always and forever
Forever and for always,
♥your best friend♥
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melissaturner2009 on December 24 at 5:39 a.m.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP WITH THE BENEFICIARY FUND IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. THIS IS A HARD ENOUGH TIME FOR THIS FAMILY WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT THE FINANCIAL ASPECTS ALL THE TIME. NO MATTER IF ITS ONLY A COUPLE DOLLARS OR A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS, EVERY LITTLE BIT WILL HELP THIS FAMILY. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A WASHINGTON TRUST BANK NEAR YOU THEY WILL ACCEPT A CHECK OR MONEY ORDER IN THE MAIL:
WASHINGTON TRUST BANK
P.O. BOX 2127
SPOKANE, WA. 99210
c/o: Curlew Ryken Family fire victims fund
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please dont forget to send letters to the family and any statements about the building conditions or joe and rebecca to the email account that has been set up for the family:
curlewfirevictims@live.com
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these emails will be printed off and delivered directly to John Ryken who is the husband of amanda ryken, the amazing father of those two beautiful little girls (helen and gail), and my wonderful best friend of 11 years.
please keep john, amanda, and the family in your thoughts and prayers. this is such a horrible thing to deal with but its even worse just days before christmas. im just praying that things only get better from here on out!!! have faith john- keep your head up- and dont you dare give up. you can do this. we're all right here with you honey.
*melissa*
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FRED on December 24 at 6:51 a.m.
Melissa–You go girl–be strong and a solid pilliar that your friends can lean on–my hat is off to you!
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melissaturner2009 on December 24 at 8:46 a.m.
COMMENT FROM JOHN RYKEN 8:36am
“i dont care what started the fire. i will find that out in good time. but right now my concern is to get amanda through this. i would never do anything to harm amanda because thats not what my girls would want their daddy to do. and you know what? i love her so i could never harm her anyway. everything i am doing is in the best interest of amanda.”
i am on the phone with john ryken right now. i will keep you all updated. as i talk to him throughout the day i will be reading your comments to him and posting his replies.
thank you to everyone who has kept this family in your prayers.
*melissa*
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Shannon Sullivan on December 24 at 8:57 a.m.
My thoughts and prayers are with all of the family members, especially the mother and father. We should never have to bury our children.
I did not know any of the victims, but I have to wonder why God needed them so soon.
Melissa, thank you on behalf of the community for doing all you have done to help with this tragedy.
Stay strong and know that they are all with their creator. May the family always hear “whispers from heaven”, God bless you ALL.
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melissaturner2009 on December 24 at 10:25 a.m.
I thought that I would post this poem that john ryken and i have recieved from a close friend of ours. i cant say for sure where this poem originated from but it brings a tear to the eye everytime we read it but yet it brings some degree of comfort in its own way.
*melissa turner*
“He only took my hand”
Last night while i was trying to sleep;
my daughters voice i did hear.
I opened my eyes and looked around
but she did not appear.
She Said “dad you've got to listen, you've got to understand,
god didnt take me from you, he only took my hand”.
When i called out in pain that night,
the instant that i died, he reached down and took my hand,
and pulled me to his side.
He pulled me up and saved me, from the misery and pain.
My body was hurt so badly, i could never be the same.
My search is really over now, i've found happiness within.
All the answers to my empty dreams and all that might have been.
I love you and miss you so, and i will always be nearby.
My body's gone forever, but my spirit will NEVER die!
And so, you must go on now, Living one day at a time.
Just understand..God did not take me from you..
he only took my hand.
please keep john, amanda and thier family in your thoughts and prayers. this is a very difficult time for them and everyday i pray for them to find the strength and courage to make it through this horrible nightmare.
if anyone has any ideas on how to help raise money to help with medical and possible funeral expenses please email and let me know your thoughts. curlewfirevictims@live.com
have a wonderful christmas and god bless
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localresident1954 on December 24 at 8:37 p.m.
people have set up places for funds and donations in both Curlew and Republic. The communities will band together, just as we always have when tragedy hits.
In the future, I would suggest a wrongful death suit against joe and rebecca. They knew that hell hole was a fire trap, as did the HUD office. All of those people need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and they need to be held accountable for all ot the medical and funeral expenses.
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melissaturner2009 on December 24 at 10:19 p.m.
localresident1954-
when you said that donation sites had been set up are you talking about for the displaced families that were effected by this fire? or for the memorial fund for the ryken family? i just got done reading all new comments to john ryken and he asked me to message you and clarify that for him.
he also wanted to let you know that we have already got an attorney lined up for this lawsuit and he is doing this free of charge for now and taking a very small portion of whatever the family recieves in the settlement. we would appreciate all the help we can get with character statements about joe and rebecca, or about the condition of the building, or anything else you think would help. please send all of those statements and any emails to the family to curlewfirevictims@live.com . everything sent to that site will be read to john ryken as it is recieved and then printed and delivered directly to john ryken for personal records.
if any of you havent seen the news tonight there is a very emotional and heartfelt interview with john (2 different videos) and the news segment has some photos of him, amanda, and their beautiful little girls on www.krem.com you should check them out.
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in response to FRED….
thank you for your kind words but i may appear strong while hiding behind the screen on this laptop but im dying inside. john ryken has been my best friend for 11 years and has been there everytime i ever needed him and even sometimes when i didnt :) hes the strong one. his whole life was shattered in a matter of hours, maybe minutes. and he still has the strength to wake up and face the morning. i have always told that man how amazing i thought he was and he never believed me. when i am able to find a ride to seattle and im able to see him again, hug him, hold him, be there for him- im going to do everything i can to point out all the many reasons why he is such an amazing man.
JOHN RYKEN HAS STAYED SO STRONG THROUGH THIS ALL. HE HAS BEEN SO OPTIMISTIC DURING THIS WHOLE NIGHTMARE. HE'S BEING SO CALM AND CLEAR HEADED WHEN FACING THE FALSE RUMORS AND ACCUSATIONS. BEEN SO PATIENT WITH EVERYONE. THAT MAN IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. HE IS A WONDERFUL FATHER, HAS AN AMAZING VOICE, HES SO LOVING, HE REFUSES TO SEE THE NEGATIVE, HE ALWAYS FINDS THE POSITIVE IN PEOPLE NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION. HES LOVING, CARING, RESPECTFUL, LOYAL, TALENTED, PATIENT, KIND. I LOVE THAT MAN WITH ALL MY HEART, HE HAS BEEN MY BEST FRIEND FOR 11 YEARS, NOTHING WILL EVER CHANGE THAT, AND AFTER SEEING HIM HANDLE THIS NIGHTMARE THE WAY HE HAS- JOHN RYKEN IS MY HERO!!!
*melissa*
proud best friend of john ryken!!!
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localresident1954 on December 25 at 11:33 a.m.
All I know is that there are funds going to both of the banks and the salvation army bell ringer at Anderson's said those funds will be going to help. I am certain that John and Amanda will be helped, but not sure of who or how right now. I will definitely check on that.
Amanda's care should be covered by state assistance, right? No way is harborview going to deny the utmost and best possible treatment for her. They will care for her as tho she has 100 million bucks, please tell John not to worry about that right now. Just to worry about Amanda.
I know too, that Kelly and the babies will be taken care of. Tell him that too. We are a strong community, the help will be there when needed.
I forwarded an email to you.
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FRED on December 25 at 7:48 p.m.
Mellnisa—I watched the news and did real good till John said that his girls should be going to bed and waiting for Santa!
Thats when my emotions let go, even after all these years I still miss my daughter and its hard to except the death of an infant caused by by somthing that was perventable—John is strong now because he has to be, but he will need love and suport after the waters calm.
When the time comes to find the girls and grandma a resting place I would suggest the Curlew Cemetery, I would suggest a spot just above the school grounds so when family visit they will hear the children playing and laughing on the play grounds, this helped us get thru those tough times and gave us peace.
My prayers go out to Amanda and John
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pause2think on December 26 at 1:53 p.m.
MelissaTurner2009; You post that you are in contact with Mr. John Ryken. Therefore, I am confused: why are you writing to him on a webpage?
It makes you appear: not very bright; not very sincere; and, pathetically craving attention.
I do not know any of the parties involved (even needed to search a map for Curlew). But __”somethin' just ain't right”__ with the immediate and repeated solicitation of dollar$.
Did you read the remarks made by __Amanda's own mother__ requesting that funds NOT NOT NOT be given to John; but, instead, that any financial support for Amanda (and her deceased children and mother) be sent directly to the hospital that is caring for Amanda? (I add: where the proper use of the funds will be audited.)
Rightfully, funds to support the families who lost their possessions, too, ought be considered for donation.
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curlewman on December 30 at 5:49 p.m.
I would have to agree to PAUSE2THINK…. ALL FUNDS should help everyone who has been affected by what has happened.
Not just JOHN RYKEN. I agree with the Mother of Amanda also
I think all funds should be monitored, this way making sure that John Ryken, is being true to everyone who has donated.
I did a check of your melissaturner2009, I found your Myspace online, and have found many of the family's on Myspace also. And on KREM2 news website.
I couldn't believe my eyes the things you say and have stated about the family when there grieving. YOU should be a shamed of yourself. treating people who are going though hard times like you did.
And I noticed you used John Ryken as the main person you are stating from, shouldn't Mr. Ryken be stating his own words?
On your myspace I noticed you have lost love ones, and yet you treat those who lost also with such vulgar comments. I have contacted some of the people about this. there statements all line up to you being the main person who has caused allot of the problems between Mr. Ryken, and Amanda's Family.
I feel sorry for everyone who had lost, and please don't think I'm attacking anyone, I just can't believe the things that have been said, and done. Then asking for money and wondering if it's for John Ryken, or everyone. I would want it to help anyone who is needed in these times, and wouldn't ask such a question.
Well God bless all those who are hurting, and I pray for everyone every night.
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