Fourth Child Dies After Kentucky Trailer Fire

Oct. 27, 2005
A fourth child died at a Louisville hospital Thursday morning, two days after flames engulfed a trailer home and killed three others.

A fourth child died at a Louisville hospital Thursday morning, two days after flames engulfed a trailer home and killed three others.

Two-year-old Juan Pena was pronounced dead at Kosair Children's Hospital, WLKY NewsChannel 32 reported Thursday.

Liz Beth Garcia, 2; Loren Pena, 3; and Gabrial Pena, 5 months, all died Tuesday.

The blaze took place Tuesday morning in a trailer community in the 8200 block of Minors Lane, in Okolona. Several police agencies have been investigating, but foul play is not suspected.

"Several samples were taken out of the residence today and sent to the state lab in Frankfort," Okolona Fire Marshal Mike Allendorf said.

Allendorf added that a stove was among the samples sent to the crime lab, and that the investigation has centered on the living room and the kitchen, WLKY reported.

"It's kind of like a jigsaw puzzle," he said. "You look for areas of the most damage, then you look in those areas for the cause."

Allendorf said it will take at least a couple of weeks to get the results back from the state lab, and hopes to have a cause at that time. Investigators have ruled out accelerants, which would suggest arson, as well as lighters and matches, Alexander reported.

The Horseman's Benevolent and Protective Association is raising money for the victims' families. Those interested in making donations can send checks to:

Kentucky HBPA

422 Heywood Ave.

Louisville, KY 40208

St. Rita Catholic Church and Holiday Park -- the trailer community where the tragedy took place -- also are raising money to help the family.

Funeral arrangments are pending, WLKY reported.

Please follow WLKY NewsChannel 32 and WLKY.com for updates to this story as they become available.

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Copyright 2005 by WLKY.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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