IL - Child, 9, charged in fire deaths of 5 people, Goodfield, 6 Apr 2019

[oviedo]

This fire happened back in April, so it wasn't quick. I'm waiting to hear what the boy supposedly did to start the fire.
I'm sniffing Munchausen Syndrome here.
And much family dysfunction after seeing relatives fb pages. Lots more to this story.

oh wow - totally missed that part about April - so much investigation has to have taken place at this point. I doubt the arrest warrant is public. so many questions IMO. Thanks for clarifying this information.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The mother a 9-year-old boy charged with starting a fire that killed five of his relatives has spoken out in defense of her son, saying his dead family members would want him “to get the help he needs.”

The victims include Alwood’s other children (bottom, from left), Ariel Wall, Daemon Wall and niece Rose Alwood; and, at top, her fiancé Jason Wall and grandmother Kathryn Murray.​

The state’s Department of Children and Family Services opened an investigation in wake of the deadly blaze and has since taken custody of the suspect. The agency has been in contact with the family on 13 different occasions prior to the fire.
Mother of 9-year-old charged with starting fire that killed 5 family members says he ‘has a good heart’

 

[Kakidoll]

View attachment 208649
The mother a 9-year-old boy charged with starting a fire that killed five of his relatives has spoken out in defense of her son, saying his dead family members would want him “to get the help he needs.”
View attachment 208650
The state’s Department of Children and Family Services opened an investigation in wake of the deadly blaze and has since taken custody of the suspect. The agency has been in contact with the family on 13 different occasions prior to the fire.
Mother of 9-year-old charged with starting fire that killed 5 family members says he ‘has a good heart’

Seeing those videos, DCFS should have taken charge long ago....and those babies may still be alive. The 'parents' send up warning flags ALL over the place.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Ruestman said he determined his findings through interviews and forensic evidence.

Woodford County State’s Attorney Greg Minger said he was awaiting results of final forensic tests before he files charges. Results probably will be available in about two weeks.

“Based on what I’ve seen in the reports and interviews, eventually there will be some charges (filed),” Minger said. “It takes some time.”
Illinois mobile home fire that killed five was intentionally set, authorities say

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The boy is expected in court Oct. 21. The public will not be allowed in the courtroom.

The investigation into the fire revealed it was set intentionally, officials said. There is no state statute that specifies the youngest age at which a youth can be charged with a crime. He will have a public defender appointed for him.
Goodfield mother: Son accused of killing 5 has mental health issues

Photos: Fire kills 5 in Goodfield mobile home

 

[enelram]

I wonder if any of the deceased had life insurance?
Also was this family renting or did they own the
home? Could it have been the grandmother's
trailer?
I'm still having a hard time understanding a
mother standing outside at a window and telling
her children and bf that she loved them and was
sorry she couldn't save them but didn't try to
save them or bust any windows to get them out.
So if bf was awake how come he didn't get out?
Sorry, this story doesn't add up.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

DCFS investigating
The agency had 13 previous contacts with the 9-year-old’s family before the fire, dating back to when he would have been an infant.

In most cases, the agency either referred Alwood to community services or determined allegations were “unfounded” after the family took some action to fix the situation.

DCFS took custody of the boy shortly after the fire, and he was placed into a foster home, according to an agency spokesman.

Clarke, of the Juvenile Justice Initiative, said she couldn’t understand why the boy was charged with murder. State law doesn’t allow children under 13 to be sentenced to state facilities and doesn’t allow children under 10 to be held at county facilities.

“Even at age 8 or 9, there’s a lot they don’t know about being future oriented," Moreno said. "Just because they answer a question like, ‘Do you understand that if you set fire to something, that someone could get hurt?' doesn’t mean you understand what would happen in the future because of your specific actions,” she said. “Sense of time is an extremely late developing skill.”
9-year-old central Illinois boy charged with murder in fatal fire that killed 5 ‘made a terrible mistake,’ but he’s ‘not a monster,’ mom says

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“Yes, he should be punished, but he needs mental help, that’s what he needs.”

Minger said he decided to charge the boy after reading through various authoritative reports about the fire numerous times.

Illinois woman: Son, 9, made 'terrible mistake' intentionally setting home ablaze, killing 5 family members

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“He made a terrible mistake,” Katie Alwood, 28, said of her 9-year-old son. “He’s a child.”

People should instead “pray that he gets the help he needs,” she said Thursday in an interview with the Tribune.
9-year-old central Illinois boy charged with murder in fatal fire that killed 5 ‘made a terrible mistake,’ but he’s ‘not a monster,’ mom says

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Shawn Johnson, who manages Timberline Trailer Court, said the structure at the end of Cypress Court will be torn down.

Siebert said she and Johnson plan to bring in American Red Cross workers to talk about fire safety with the people who live in the trailer court.

We’re going to make the community safer,” Siebert said. “We’re bringing in smoke alarms and we’re going to go over fire safety so it won’t be in vain, per se.

“You’ve gotta pull the positive and we’re going to do that.”
Officials rule fatal Goodfield deaths homicides; fire intentionally set

 

[gitana1]

But the guy did run into a burning building to save the children and died himself. At least that's what was originally reported, and supposedly neighbors saw him do it. Doesn't he deserve at least some credit for that? He was also a military vet, that could have messed with his mind, we know it messes a lot of people up.

That’s neither here nor there. We are discussing whether the child here suffered maltreatment that may have been the source of his homicidal behavior. That his abuser may have also been a war vet and/or heroically tried to save his family doesn’t mean he also wasn’t an abuser. I watched him abuse his special needs baby with my own eyes on video.

But he’s not the one on trial. We don’t need to balance out the truth of how he acted toward his children with good things he did. The kid is the one who was charged and might be on trial. We are trying to figure out why. The good things his stepfather did don’t undo the damage his parenting style might have caused.

 

[gitana1]

I have followed several cases of young kids doing very messed up stuff, and in most of them I have agreed that they do need to be punished for their crimes. But with this one, I don't know why, I just don't get the feeling that K. really knew what he was doing... I just don't believe he had malicious intent. If he really did do it, that is. I don't know if it would do anyone any good to lock up this kid for the rest of his life. Some major help is needed, and if anyone actually cares about this kid, he should be getting it already. The people responsible for him need to be involved in it, the kid needs guidance. I might be naive and blinded by how little he looks, but I just can't believe this crazy story.

I don’t think it would do any good to lock up any nine year old for the rest of their lives. Their brains aren’t fully developed and if they’re displaying anti-social tendencies they’re at an age when it’s still possible to change their brains. Their brains are very elastic at that age.

However, when a child that age intentionally or purposefully kills people there is something very wrong and IMO they need intensive treatment of some sort. Just observing his family I think at the least he needs to be removed from their care.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

He did take a lot from me,” she said. “But God tells us not to judge.”

“I’ve never seen anything go up in flames so fast,” she said, adding she has post-traumatic stress disorder after barely surviving the fire, and the sound of a smoke alarm still gives her panic attacks. “My niece died in my arms. I can still hear them screaming.”
9-year-old central Illinois boy charged with murder in fatal fire that killed 5 ‘made a terrible mistake,’ but he’s ‘not a monster,’ mom says

 

[gitana1]

https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/49c54005b7c4777d3cedd44080423170?width=1024
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No cookies | NT News

Little Rose is such a beauty.

 

[gitana1]

I agree - but how could they arrest so quickly? I think there is more going on than we know IMO and I haven't even watched the videos referenced upthread.

Apparently they didn’t. I got confused by the headline here but the fire happened last April. It was after the coroner’s inquest that they decided to consider charging him.

If he’s on probation that may be the only way they have to ensure this child is cared for and his needs for therapy and stable care are met. I hope he’s removed from his mother.

 

[gitana1]

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What parent would allow their minor child accused of murder to be identified and his photos plastered everywhere? That’s crazy. She says he had to move due to death threats and yet she’s letting the entire nation know who he is and what he looks like?

How does that enable this kid to overcome whatever happened in his life and brain to lead to this horror and to heal and rehabilitate?

This case is weird.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Fire Safety - Health and Safety Tips for Children

https://www2.illinois.gov/dcfs/safekids/safety/Documents/Fire_Safety_Brochure.pdf

 

[gitana1]

View attachment 208649
The mother a 9-year-old boy charged with starting a fire that killed five of his relatives has spoken out in defense of her son, saying his dead family members would want him “to get the help he needs.”

View attachment 208650
The victims include Alwood’s other children (bottom, from left), Ariel Wall, Daemon Wall and niece Rose Alwood; and, at top, her fiancé Jason Wall and grandmother Kathryn Murray.​

The state’s Department of Children and Family Services opened an investigation in wake of the deadly blaze and has since taken custody of the suspect. The agency has been in contact with the family on 13 different occasions prior to the fire.
Mother of 9-year-old charged with starting fire that killed 5 family members says he ‘has a good heart’

And there it is.

 

[oviedo]

Apparently they didn’t. I got confused by the headline here but the fire happened last April. It was after the coroner’s inquest that they decided to consider charging him.

If he’s in probation that may be the only way they have to ensure this child is cared for and his needs for therapy and stable care are met. I hope he’s removed from his mother.

yes - thanks - It would help if the fire portion referenced April and arrest was October but this case is just so awful. IMO if he wasn't entirely to blame - then that's even worse.

 

[gitana1]

He did take a lot from me,” she said. “But God tells us not to judge.”
View attachment 208661
“I’ve never seen anything go up in flames so fast,” she said, adding she has post-traumatic stress disorder after barely surviving the fire, and the sound of a smoke alarm still gives her panic attacks. “My niece died in my arms. I can still hear them screaming.”
9-year-old central Illinois boy charged with murder in fatal fire that killed 5 ‘made a terrible mistake,’ but he’s ‘not a monster,’ mom says

Thanks for keeping us updated with all the news articles!!!