Mom let girl, 11, watch her kids before deadly fire: Sheriff
Share this @internewscast.com

Background: Aftermath of a fire on North Colony Road in Columbus County, North Carolina (Columbus County News/WNCN/YouTube). Inset: Reagan Powers (Columbus County Sheriff”s Office).

A North Carolina mother has been charged after four of her young daughters were killed in a house fire and two others were forced to escape.

Reagan Powers, aged 28, is facing charges of four counts each of involuntary manslaughter and negligent child abuse leading to serious bodily harm, according to court documents. The blaze erupted on Aug. 30 off a minor road in rural North Carolina.

The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to the fire on North Colony Road after receiving a report about a structure fire with people trapped inside. Deputies were informed that a woman claimed her home was on fire with four children inside, as the law enforcement agency announced some days later.

The initial deputy reached the scene nine minutes after the report – however, the structure was already completely engulfed in flames by then. The fire was so intense, officials noted, that entering the home safely was not possible.

Four girls died in the fire. They were 2, 4, 6, and 7 years old, Raleigh CBS affiliate WNCN reported. Two 11-year-old girls were able to escape.

According to arrest warrants, Powers had left the younger children under the supervision of an 11-year-old girl while she departed the residence. Her destination remains unknown.

“Our community is grappling with an unfathomable tragedy,” Columbus County Sheriff Bill Rogers and Fire Marshal Shannon Blackman mentioned in a joint statement on Sept. 2. “We urge everyone to come together in support of the family and those affected by this heartbreaking loss.”

The fire is being investigated by several agencies, including the Columbus County Fire Marshal’s Office, the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and the SBI. As of Tuesday, the sheriff’s office said the cause of the fire remained undetermined.

“During an extensive scene examination and investigative efforts, no conclusive source of ignition has been identified,” the agency said. “However, investigators have found no evidence to suggest that the fire was started intentionally.”

Powers was booked into the Columbus County Detention Center on Wednesday afternoon on a $400,000 bond. She reportedly bonded out not long after. She was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday at 3 p.m.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Smiling Assailant Attacks Pregnant Mother with Baseball Bat, Police Report

Left inset: Marielle Barrios (Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office). Right inset: Gheonna Lacy…

Tragic Love Triangle: Surgeon Allegedly Kills Ex and Her Dentist Husband, Police Report

Background: Spencer and Monique Tepe (Facebook). Inset: Michael McKee in court (Law&Crime…

Tragic Incident: Woman Fatally Attacked in Puppy Sale Scam, Authorities Report

Inset left to right: Iryanna Fleming, Daquinn Thomas, and Nikko Carraway (Florence…

Two Additional Suspects Arrested in Connection with Fatal Melbourne Teen Drive-By Shooting

Two more men have been arrested over the drive-by shooting death of…

Teen Accused of Fatal Robbery That Claimed the Life of Expectant Mother

In a shocking incident in suburban Chicago, a teenager faces serious charges…

Tragic Discovery: Teen Returns Home to Find Young Brother Suffocated, Authorities Report

Insets, left to right: Finley Cullom (Diana Cullom/Facebook) and Diana Cullom (Pinellas…

Shocking Scandal: Elementary School VP Caught in 100-Count Walmart Theft Spree

Share An assistant principal from an elementary school in Georgia has found…

Babysitter in Custody Following Serious Head Injury to Infant Boy

In a distressing incident in California, a 50-year-old woman has been taken…

Tragedy Strikes: Pregnant Mom Killed by Drunk Driver After In-N-Out Run, Leaving Behind Young Son

Left inset: Daniel Ramos (Anaheim Police Department). Right inset: Bianca Esquivel (GoFundMe).…

Suspect Apprehended in Ambush Assault on Pregnant Wisconsin Woman

In Wisconsin, authorities have detained a 38-year-old woman following an alleged ambush…

Tragic Incident: Teen’s Outburst Over Wi-Fi Leads to Family Tragedy

Inset: William Bushey. Background: William Bushey’s shotgun that he used to blast…

Gainesville Resident Apprehended for Brandishing Hyper-Realistic BB Gun in Workplace Dispute

In a peculiar turn of events at a Gainesville Wendy’s, a 19-year-old…