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Authorities continue to investigate a "suspicious" Sunday morning fire that claimed the lives of two Syracuse children described as "a joy and prize" by their grandmother.
The bodies of Austin Reed, 3, and Justin Reed, 17 months, were found in their beds in a rear bedroom of the family home on Majestic Way, rural Syracuse. The house was destroyed by fire.
Kosciusko County Coroner Larry Ladd ruled the cause of death for both boys as smoke inhalation. The carbon monoxide poisoning that caused the deaths suggests both boys were alive at the time of the fire, Ladd said.
Syracuse Fire Chief Larry Hunter said there is nothing new in his investigation, and has turned the investigation over to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department.
Lead investigator Det. Sgt. Thomas Brindle said this morning the cause of the fire remains under investigation, but he refused to release details of why the fire was suspicious and whether or not any specific individuals are under scrutiny.
Brindle took samples of materials gathered from the home today from the fire scene to a Fort Wayne lab for analysis. Sheriff Al Rovenstine said the tests will help determine if an accelerant was used to start a fire.
Brindle said investigators still need to talk to David Reed and Faith Ferguson, the parents of the two children. Brindle said the parents refused to talk to police the day of the fire, and have still not made contact with police to talk.
The Reed family is struggling to cope with the loss of two "really sweet, cute and lovable" toddlers who lived right across the street from their great-grandparents.
"We all loved them very much," said Hai Reed, a grandmother of Austin and Justin. "We spent a lot of time together." Hai said she often babysat for the two boys on weekends at her home in Ligonier.
Hearing the news of the fire in her son's home and the death of her only grandchildren was too much for Hai to handle. "I lost it ... I screamed so loud."
When she arrived at the scene of the fire, "I looked at the house ... my son said they were gone. I just almost passed out." She and David cried together, she said.
Hai last saw her grandsons last weekend when she kept Justin overnight. Austin came with his parents to pick up his younger brother.
"I always hugged and held them," Hai said, sobbing. "I give a hug and kiss before they leave, you never know what will happen."
David Reed and Ferguson were unavailable for comment. His father, William Reed, would only say the two have a place to stay and need time alone in private to deal with their loss. William said, "They are doing about as well as can be expected."
"He's not doing too good," Hai said of David. "He loved them so much."
Hai described the two boys as being alike but having distinct personalities. "Austin was so sweet, more ornery. The little one was more quiet and calm."
She said the two were no trouble and would obey what she told them.
"Ever since [Justin] was born, no one [was] as cute from the beginning," Hai remembered. "Just like a little angel."
David's grandfather, Charles Reed, lives right across the street from the destroyed home. It was Charles' house David ran to Sunday morning to call for help when he realized his own home was on fire.
"He said, 'Call 911,'" Charles remembered David's words as he ran into the house. "'My house is on fire and the smoke is so bad,'" Charles related what David told him.
Charles said David tried to go back into the house two or three times to get to the boys, but was overcome by the smoke. Charles said David even borrowed a neighbor's fire extinguisher and entered the house, but could not breathe because of the smoke. David then turned on an outside hose, but the wiring in the house was burned and and stopped the well pump.
"I was never so scared in my life," Charles said. He said his wife Aline also wanted to go into the house to try to get the boys, but could not because of the smoke.
"We sure are going to miss those babies," Charles said. He and his wife remember Austin coming across the street to visit them often.
"It was wonderful," Charles said. "I gave him candy and popcorn."
"We don't know what we're going to do with all the stuff," Charles and Hai agreed. Both had toys and clothes ready for the boys whenever they came to visit.
"They're going to really be missed," Charles said. "I can't believe it." He told favorite stories of Austin playing ball with his father and both boys jumping off a coffee table for fun.
Toys lay strewn across the yard blocked off in yellow police tape. A tiny rechargeable car sat in the side yard where Austin left it, Charles said, waiting for a little boy that will never learn to drive.
