Fioernzo was born in Piedicavello, Italy in 1889 and came to the US in 1907.
He was a jeweler who owned and operated the Fayetteville Jewelry Co. The jewelry store was also the greyhound bus station and had a soda fountain and served sandwiches. He was director of the Fayette County National Bank, Fayette Savings and Loan Assocation, did road construction and mining with his cousin Cleante. His store was a favorite meeting place for vistors and the people of Fayetteville.From History of Fayette County, 1993)
This should clear up how they were related. According to this book they were cousin s.
To clear up why one of the men's names may have been on the death certificates: Mr. Sodder had a heated agrument with one of the these men.
Fiorernzo I assume. He said I see you have refused to take out life insurance and refuse to sign the papers to settle Mrs. Sodder's father's estate. Your
God..... house is going up in smoke and your children are going to be destroyed.
Their concerns intensified over the man's comments when they learned that he had been a member of the coroner's jury which ruled the fire an accident.WV Unsolved Mysteries.
Perhaps he signed the death certificates because he was on the coroner's jury rather than being a trusted friend by the Sodders. This man and the Sodders appeared to be friends at one time but enemies before the fire.
Also the Sodders were not seeking reasons to deny their loss they were simply determined to find the truth. Why was this man so concerned over life insurance and Mrs. Sodder's father's estate?
Here is a theory about John 's statement about shaking the children - This is only a theory - John had just returned from World War II. That, in itself, was enough to place a large burden on a 21 year old. I don't know anything about his military history, however; I can be pretty sure he survived some horrific events while in the war. He returns, happy to be home but still consumed by the events he endured. Most veterans feel guilty to some degree when they go through a terrible ordeal where others are killed. They ask-why did I survived and Joe Doe didn't. What about Jack, Henry, and Fred. Why are they not here and I am?.
Why? Why? Why?
Coping is very hard for former soldiers expecially in war time. Many suffer from PTSD.
I want to say that I think John was a good person, good son, good father and so forth until the day he passed away.
The worse thing that could happen to him now is another horrific event. That night he went to bed. Sound alseep, he was woke up by his mother and father's crys. He calls out and runs down the steps along with George. He is still not fully awake or knows what is going on until he reaches the downstairs. He tries to help his father get back upstairs. He burns himself trying desperately to save his brothers and sisters. Nothing works. The house burns.
He looks at his father and mother, after the house is burned. They are grieving uncontrollably. This Guy (John) just needs one more burden. They stay in an outbuilding the night of the fire. They ask why he didn't get the children out before he come down. He has another brick on his shoulders.
What would you say?
By the time officals arrived the matter had already been thought through and discussed between John and his grieving parents. He told the officials the same thing he told his mother and father. I would have done the same thing.
He would not have wanted his parents to know he let them down. He was not a bad person. Think about it.
Questions:
If the smoke was so intense the children were dead how did John get in the room, find them and shake them? Did they respond to being shook?
Were not two of the other brothers supposed to be in the room with John and George. Why does everyone keep saying the children were all in one room?
How long after they called did it take George and John to get down the steps? Did they come together? Did the other Sodders hear any movement from them before they came down? Did they answer the calls and come down sometime later or immediately? What was George's role in all of this?
Why would you shake a six year old and not pick her up and bring her down with you? (from Unsolved Murders)-Mrs. Sodders ran to the staircase and shouted for the children. In a moment John and George, Jr. ran downstairs to see what was going on.
I do not think John did anything wrong. However, I think he was downstairs before he truly knew the impact of what was going on.
However, I must say, he may have been telling the truth. Perhaps he was. But between two boys they could have carried most of the children down in one trip. Just another horrific burden for John if he was not telling the truth. May he rest in peace.
QUESTION: WHY WHEN MRS. SODDER WAS AWAKEN THE LIGHTS WERE STILL ON, SOME OF THE DOORS NOT LOCKED. SHE STATED THE WELL BEHAVED CHILDREN ALWAYS DID THAT. COULD SOMEONE HAVE COME TO THE DOOR THE CHILDREN KNEW AND TRUSTED AND OFFERED TO SHOW THEM THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS OR SOMETHING AND BRING THEM BACK AND THE PARENTS WOULD NEVER KNOW? wHY WOULD SOMEONE CUT THE TELEPHONE LINES WITH SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE, THE LIGHTS STILL ON, JUST TO STEAL SOMETHING OUT OF AN OUTBUILDING?
DIDN'T THIS MAN ATTEMPT THIS THIEF DURING THE TIME THE HOUSE WAS BURNING?