From Wire Reports Eight Children Left Alone Are Killed In House Fire

Eight small children, left at home by themselves, died in an early morning house fire Sunday, police said. An 8-year-old girl escaped the flames unharmed.

The victims, all relatives from 5 months to 7 years old, were found dead inside, said Assistant Chief Harry Threlkeld of the Carbondale Fire Department.

Camilla Foulks, 25, mother of three of the children, had been baby-sitting the others, who were left there by their parents, authorities said.

At a news conference Sunday, Police Chief Don Strom said Foulks might have been in a bar when the fire broke out.

Jackson County State’s Attorney Mike Wepsiec said Foulks was given a blood test to determine if she was intoxicated but results were not immediately available. Foulks was staying with relatives Sunday night.

Strom said preliminary reports indicate all the victims had deadly levels of carbon monoxide in their systems. He said the cause of the fire had not been determined but arson was not suspected.

“The fire was contained in one bedroom - where seven of the victims were found. There was slight damage to another bedroom,” said Threlkeld. “One victim was found in the living room.”

The victims were identified as Lafesca Gates, 7; Antwene Sanders, 5; Sherice McDaniel, 4; Joseph McDaniel, 3; Elisha Fonder, 3; Clifton Simon, 3; Carlika Simon, 16 months; and Carlton Simon, 5 months, Threlkeld said.