5 Children Die in Arkansas House Fire

Fire officials in Bentonville, Arkansas, say a fire that swept through a home and killed five children appears to be accidental.

[Julie_P]

Surprise Surprise! Mom and dad were on meth. They had probably just gone on a 4-day meth binge and were completely knocked out and sleeping it off while their children were burning to death. How very sad, the babies never had a chance. Lock up these scumbags for neglect and endangerment and remove any more children they have now or will ever have.

[Another Parent]

OMG! So sad!

I send my prayers for the souls of the childen lost in the fire, and to the remaining family.

[One Voice]

If these parents were using Meth, they need to be locked up for a long time. Especially if they show no remorse.
If they were not using meth, why was it in the house?
I will wait to make any harsh comments untill I know more, but at this point, it don't look very good.

[Julie_P]

One Voice wrote:

If these parents were using Meth, they need to be locked up for a long time. Especially if they show no remorse.
If they were not using meth, why was it in the house?
I will wait to make any harsh comments untill I know more, but at this point, it don't look very good.

My thoughts exactly. It seems as if harsher penalties need to be doled out to these druggie moms and dads. I don't see how they are allowed to give birth to drug addicted children and have terrible harm come to their kids while they are under the influence and only receive a slap on the wrist. It is very sad.

[Fifth Generation]

My prayers are with the five innocent lives ended so needlessly and far sooner than one might have hoped.

Blessings on those first-responders and investigators who must deal with the unwanted memories this must surely create.

[Wendy]

"Surprise Surprise! Mom and dad were on meth. They had probably just gone on a 4-day meth binge and were completely knocked out and sleeping it off while their children were burning to death. How very sad, the babies never had a chance. Lock up these scumbags for neglect and endangerment and remove any more children they have now or will ever have. "

Just so you know, the girls were found in sleeping positions. They didn't burn. They stopped breathing because there was no oxygen in the room because of the fire.

You don't know all the facts so don't assume negative things.

How insensitive of you to sit there and bash the parents, who have just lost 5 children.

A whole community was effected by this.
Be sensitive to the feelings of others involved in this.

[jkb]

Before posting the negative comments about the parents, perhaps you should wait until all the news stories come out. There is going to be a retraction to the news story. The parents were NOT on drugs...what was found was a white powder that was a power booster one can purchase at any drugstore. The father tried to go back inside to save the children, but could not get through the fire. This is such an awful tragedy and our thoughts and prayers should be with the parents.

[Julie P]

Wendy wrote:

"Surprise Surprise! Mom and dad were on meth. They had probably just gone on a 4-day meth binge and were completely knocked out and sleeping it off while their children were burning to death. How very sad, the babies never had a chance. Lock up these scumbags for neglect and endangerment and remove any more children they have now or will ever have. "
Just so you know, the girls were found in sleeping positions. They didn't burn. They stopped breathing because there was no oxygen in the room because of the fire.
You don't know all the facts so don't assume negative things.
How insensitive of you to sit there and bash the parents, who have just lost 5 children.
A whole community was effected by this.
Be sensitive to the feelings of others involved in this.

This is an *opinion* forum, and I am entitled to my opinion. Insensitive? What are the chances the parents would just happen to be on this Sacramento news forum to even *see* my comments? I am not broadcasting my opinion through the airwaves, I am stating my opinion on a forum. I have no idea why you would even be here.
If you are truly so concerned about the family, why don't you go donate your time and money to help them find a new place to live instead of searching random internet forums for opinions you don't agree with.

[Julie P]

jkb wrote:

Before posting the negative comments about the parents, perhaps you should wait until all the news stories come out. There is going to be a retraction to the news story. The parents were NOT on drugs...what was found was a white powder that was a power booster one can purchase at any drugstore. The father tried to go back inside to save the children, but could not get through the fire. This is such an awful tragedy and our thoughts and prayers should be with the parents.

Here are the facts, taken from a NW Arkansas TV station:
http://www.4029tv.com/news/15701077/detail.ht...

All five children’s bodies were found in the bedroom where the suspect space heater was found. That bedroom contained two twin beds, each of which contained one child’s body. The other three children’s bodies were found on the floor, and evidence indicates they were sleeping in those positions, White said.

“There was a working smoke detector in the parents’ bedroom downstairs, and we did find the remnants of a smoke detector upstairs but we did not find a battery for it,” White said.

Items were seized from the house and transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab in Little Rock for analysis, including a portable space heater,“suspected narcotics, including what’s suspected to be a small amount of methamphetamine, a small amount of what’s believed to be marijuana, and other drug paraphernalia,” Allen said.

“There is a past history of arrests and disturbances at that residence,” Allen said.

So, I wonder: What was the suspected Marijuana, really? You say the suspected meth was protein powder. What was the Marijuana? What about the "drug paraphernalia"? What was that, really, in your opinion?
Did the police really make all the mistakes? Did channel 10 make the mistakes reporting the story? Or did the parents make mistakes in judgment that caused their own childrens' deaths?
My prayers are with the *children*, God rest their souls. My prayers are with all children that never had a chance because their parents aren't doing their jobs.

[very]

Yes everyone has their opinion
All that i can say is God knows, God owns, and we need to pull together and pray for the family.
God has reasons and he has 5 little angels in heaven. Its sad those girls spent little time on earth. But everyone is not perfect we all make mistakes. i am thankful for the community coming together during this time. we need to stop if we lost a loved one consider 5 at one time. how sad.
but i can't judge those, they know, they are hurting. we will all be judge by the higher power
one day.
God be with you all, and my heart and prayer for
the family is that God will give you strength to face each day, whatever the circumstances is God will see you thru.
its hard but i know the paternal grandparents as consider relative.
so you can have your opinion, just remember God knows, sees, and hears.

[Living in Oakdale]

I'm just curious about the ages of the children. Not that it will make a difference but I was just curious.

[Julie P]

Living in Oakdale wrote:

I'm just curious about the ages of the children. Not that it will make a difference but I was just curious.

The girls were 5, 8, 9, 11, and 13.

[Julie P]

julie wrote:

<quoted text>
u *****, have a little more concideration, this couple just lost thier life and all of thier kids. it is not what started the fire, accidents happen.

Your language is against TOU.

[Living in Oakdale]

Julie P wrote:

<quoted text>
The girls were 5, 8, 9, 11, and 13.

Thanks my prayer go out to the remaining family members.

[very]

Julie_P wrote:

Surprise Surprise! Mom and dad were on meth. They had probably just gone on a 4-day meth binge and were completely knocked out and sleeping it off while their children were burning to death. How very sad, the babies never had a chance. Lock up these scumbags for neglect and endangerment and remove any more children they have now or will ever have.

all i am going to say is, how would you feel if it was your brother or sister's children and they found that stuff in home and the public says that about your family. It would be hard wouldn't it. You know, go ahead with your opinion, and i will understand. I don't like things that they found either in the home, but all i can do is pray that God will see this thru. But look around, those drugs are everywhere, and it has got to stop.
God took those babies for a reason, and we will never know the reason why. but in time we will.
if anybody is using drugs and you have children, stop it and remember your children are gifts from God. Those are family members to me. So it hurts to hear all the bashing, but i understand you have to voice your opinion. Do something, pray for the parents. It takes prayer to turn things around. They don't have their children now they are in Gods hand. If we all do more praying instead of bashing, this world can be a safer place to live.
I sure can't bash anyone, because i don't want to be judge by the higher power for that.
go ahead continue with opinions and i honestly forgive those that do. God be with you all.

[Julie P]

very wrote:

<quoted text>
all i am going to say is, how would you feel if it was your brother or sister's children and they found that stuff in home and the public says that about your family. It would be hard wouldn't it. You know, go ahead with your opinion, and i will understand. I don't like things that they found either in the home, but all i can do is pray that God will see this thru. But look around, those drugs are everywhere, and it has got to stop.
God took those babies for a reason, and we will never know the reason why. but in time we will.
if anybody is using drugs and you have children, stop it and remember your children are gifts from God. Those are family members to me. So it hurts to hear all the bashing, but i understand you have to voice your opinion. Do something, pray for the parents. It takes prayer to turn things around. They don't have their children now they are in Gods hand. If we all do more praying instead of bashing, this world can be a safer place to live.
I sure can't bash anyone, because i don't want to be judge by the higher power for that.
go ahead continue with opinions and i honestly forgive those that do. God be with you all.

I will take the risk of being judged for judging others. No one else seems to be saying what needs to be said. These people do not need to be congratulated. They need to be held accountable for their actions.
I know a boy who was born without a hand because his mother was using meth while pregnant. I know a girl that was born with a hole in her heart because her mom was doing crack while pregnant.
I know several children with mental retardation or severe learning disabilities due to their mother's drug use. I know countless people that were molested because mommy and daddy were out getting high instead of tending to their children. Children tend to get injured when they are left to cook or otherwise care for themselves when dad is passed out on the sofa.
I realize that they are calling this situation an "accident" because the space heater malfunctioned. But was it really? If the parents hadn't had marijuana and possibly meth in their systems, would they have been able to get to the children quicker? Who knows? Only God.
For right now, I will continue to state my opinion and speak for the children of drug abusers and drunks, and the children of all parents that aren't doing their jobs. I will continue to hope to God that they start holding these drug abusing moms and dads accountable for neglect and abuse.
America is incredibly lenient on these mothers who continue to have drug baby after drug baby, and incredibly forgiving to parents who neglect their children. I think it is an absolute travesty.

[very]

Julie P wrote:

<quoted text>
I will take the risk of being judged for judging others. No one else seems to be saying what needs to be said. These people do not need to be congratulated. They need to be held accountable for their actions.
I know a boy who was born without a hand because his mother was using meth while pregnant. I know a girl that was born with a hole in her heart because her mom was doing crack while pregnant.
I know several children with mental retardation or severe learning disabilities due to their mother's drug use. I know countless people that were molested because mommy and daddy were out getting high instead of tending to their children. Children tend to get injured when they are left to cook or otherwise care for themselves when dad is passed out on the sofa.
I realize that they are calling this situation an "accident" because the space heater malfunctioned. But was it really? If the parents hadn't had marijuana and possibly meth in their systems, would they have been able to get to the children quicker? Who knows? Only God.
For right now, I will continue to state my opinion and speak for the children of drug abusers and drunks, and the children of all parents that aren't doing their jobs. I will continue to hope to God that they start holding these drug abusing moms and dads accountable for neglect and abuse.
America is incredibly lenient on these mothers who continue to have drug baby after drug baby, and incredibly forgiving to parents who neglect their children. I think it is an absolute travesty.

thats fine if you want to take the risk.
I am not congratulating anyone.
everyone is accountable for their own actions.
I know there is alot of babies born from drug parents. i am not going to deny that.
yes its a shame, but i do want to say that i am against all drugs. Your right God knows all.
but i also know parents that have never touched drugs that have problems, and their babies has had
birth defects. i don't know what needs to be said.
the news say they found stuff in the home. seems like everyone is saying what they want to and thats their opinion and there is those that thrife on stuff like that the issue is 5 children have lost their lives and that is the most devasting of all. the law will investigate and do what needs to be done.
thanks for your opinion have a great day.
May God be with you.
Please say a prayer for all of the family members that including grandparents,cousins aunt and uncles of this family. Pray for those that still have their children that they can see how one minute we are here and the next we are gone in twinkle of an eye. those girls are related by marriage. distant relation.
Its sad but the parents will have to carry this for the rest of their lives. that would be a very hard thing to carry.

[very]

very wrote:

<quoted text>
thats fine if you want to take the risk.
I am not congratulating anyone.
everyone is accountable for their own actions.
I know there is alot of babies born from drug parents. i am not going to deny that.
yes its a shame, but i do want to say that i am against all drugs. Your right God knows all.
but i also know parents that have never touched drugs that have problems, and their babies has had
birth defects. i don't know what needs to be said.
the news say they found stuff in the home. seems like everyone is saying what they want to and thats their opinion and there is those that thrife on stuff like that the issue is 5 children have lost their lives and that is the most devasting of all. the law will investigate and do what needs to be done.
thanks for your opinion have a great day.
May God be with you.
Please say a prayer for all of the family members that including grandparents,cousins aunt and uncles of this family. Pray for those that still have their children that they can see how one minute we are here and the next we are gone in twinkle of an eye. those girls are related by marriage. distant relation.
Its sad but the parents will have to carry this for the rest of their lives. that would be a very hard thing to carry.

go to the morning news for northwest arkansas and read the comments: there is one from uncle and aunt that might clear up about some things that those are saying meth. you know the media finds something and the public runs. as they said it was identified Goody's extra strenth headache powder from you local convenience store. not the packet of meth. go and read it, God works in mysterious ways to those that believe and have faith. I am truthfully ashamed that people run with all of that.
thats it
no more comments at all

[Julie P]

very wrote:

<quoted text>
go to the morning news for northwest arkansas and read the comments: there is one from uncle and aunt that might clear up about some things that those are saying meth. you know the media finds something and the public runs. as they said it was identified Goody's extra strenth headache powder from you local convenience store. not the packet of meth. go and read it, God works in mysterious ways to those that believe and have faith. I am truthfully ashamed that people run with all of that.
thats it
no more comments at all

That is very sad, but what about the Marijuana and drug paraphernalia that was also found? I do wonder about that as well.

[One Voice]

I have said before, I will withold any judgements until more is known.
I would like to know, why & how a newspaper in Sacramento, Ca. saw fit to publish this story.
Did California suddenly not have any crimes or news worthy items to report?
If it has become a crime-free state (Fat Chance), we should all move there.