FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 11/3/2009) October 21 a neighbor dials 911 in an effort to save two very young lives.
3-year-old Ladareon Dunn and his little brother Catareon both died after a fire erupted at their duplex on Effie Road. they were left home alone while their mom shopped and ran errands.
According to police the children's mother didn't find out about the fire until the kids were already at the hospital. It was a neighbor, who picked up the phone, called 911, trying to save them.
Caller: "Ma'am, it's 1236 they can't get these kids on out of here." Dispatcher: "Ok, hold on ma'am. Do you have an address on it?" Caller: "1236. We right down the street from the fire station."
She didn't know their names, or their ages, she just knew they were in trouble.
Dispatcher: "Is this a house or an apartment?" Caller: "It's a duplex." Dispatcher: "Ok, tell me exactly what house." Caller: "Ok I don't know. We're a neighbor, we were just walking by. The lady who stay next door, she can't get in." Dispatcher: "Get in where?" Caller: "Inside her house ma'am. I don't (inaudible)..questions. I'm just walking by. I know you're just doing your job but these kids are in the house. It's smoking more and more!"
Firefighters rescued 3-year-old Ladareon and his little brother Catareon, but it was too late.
Ladareon died shortly after arriving at the hospital. Catareon fought for his life in the intensive care unit, but was laid to rest at Cummings Street Baptist Church over the weekend.
It's been 13 days, and still no charges against the children's mother, Melanie Dunn.
She told police she left the children home alone, locked the door, and went shopping with her aunt Marilyn Wilson. Wilson's remarks hours after the fire, stunned the entire community.
"I really need to get in here and see if my purse burned up, because I had my food stamp card in there," said Wilson on October 21.
She remains behind bars on an unrelated matter.
The spotlight, once again, is on the children's mother.
According to a spokesperson with the District Attorney's Office, the investigation is close to be finished. She says they will be able to make a decision very soon.
Stay tuned to WREG for the latest developments.
- 911 tape released in Effie Road fire
- 2 toddlers died while left home alone
- Still no charges against children's mother
(Memphis 11/3/2009) October 21 a neighbor dials 911 in an effort to save two very young lives.
3-year-old Ladareon Dunn and his little brother Catareon both died after a fire erupted at their duplex on Effie Road. they were left home alone while their mom shopped and ran errands.
According to police the children's mother didn't find out about the fire until the kids were already at the hospital. It was a neighbor, who picked up the phone, called 911, trying to save them.
Caller: "Ma'am, it's 1236 they can't get these kids on out of here." Dispatcher: "Ok, hold on ma'am. Do you have an address on it?" Caller: "1236. We right down the street from the fire station."
She didn't know their names, or their ages, she just knew they were in trouble.
Dispatcher: "Is this a house or an apartment?" Caller: "It's a duplex." Dispatcher: "Ok, tell me exactly what house." Caller: "Ok I don't know. We're a neighbor, we were just walking by. The lady who stay next door, she can't get in." Dispatcher: "Get in where?" Caller: "Inside her house ma'am. I don't (inaudible)..questions. I'm just walking by. I know you're just doing your job but these kids are in the house. It's smoking more and more!"
Firefighters rescued 3-year-old Ladareon and his little brother Catareon, but it was too late.
Ladareon died shortly after arriving at the hospital. Catareon fought for his life in the intensive care unit, but was laid to rest at Cummings Street Baptist Church over the weekend.
It's been 13 days, and still no charges against the children's mother, Melanie Dunn.
She told police she left the children home alone, locked the door, and went shopping with her aunt Marilyn Wilson. Wilson's remarks hours after the fire, stunned the entire community.
"I really need to get in here and see if my purse burned up, because I had my food stamp card in there," said Wilson on October 21.
She remains behind bars on an unrelated matter.
The spotlight, once again, is on the children's mother.
According to a spokesperson with the District Attorney's Office, the investigation is close to be finished. She says they will be able to make a decision very soon.
Stay tuned to WREG for the latest developments.
