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Death of mother and children in house fire a 'total shock' to neighbors

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Stuffed animals, roses and a birthday cake were left after a prayer vigil, Nov. 14, at the home of Kennetha Gay who died in a fire Nov. 12 with her children Kenron Treadwell and Mirissa Gay.

Christopher Magan Stuffed animals, roses and a birthday cake were left after a prayer vigil, Nov. 14, at the home of Kennetha Gay who died in a fire Nov. 12 with her children Kenron Treadwell and Mirissa Gay.

By Christopher Magan, Staff Writer Updated 4:39 PM Saturday, November 14, 2009

DAYTON — Shirley Allen was shaving when he heard screaming coming from the duplex next door to his East First Street home Thursday, Nov. 12.

Shirley and his wife Janis ran outside to find the house engulfed in flames, their 10-year-old neighbor perched on the porch roof gagging from the smoke.

“She kept hollering, ‘My brother’s dead, my brother’s dead. I can’t breath,’” Janis said. “Fire was coming out the doors and windows.”

The neighbors were able to convince the little girl to jump into their yard to safety as the house was destroyed by flames. Kennetha Gay, and two other children, 3-month-old Kenron Treadwell and 4-year-old Mirrisa Gay perished in the blaze. A 6-year-old boy walked out the back door unharmed.

Tina Tackett, another neighbor, said the deaths have rocked the normally quiet residential street in the city’s east side. “They were some of the nicest, kindest people you’ll ever meet in your life,” Tackett said. “It’s a total shock.”

Dozens gathered Friday night, Nov. 13, on the sidewalk in front of home for a prayer vigil, Tackett said. Roses and stuffed animals decorated a fence in front of the home; crimson flower pedals littered the soot-covered steps to the house. A burnt and twisted child’s bicycle sat among the debris on the porch.

Friday was Kennetha’s 29th birthday and a cake was left on the front steps to her burned-out home. Boards over doors and windows read “Happy B-day” and “RIP Sis love u Randy,” in red and green paint.

Firefighters suspect Kennetha may have fallen asleep on a downstairs couch while smoking, sparking the blaze. She got out of the home only to run back inside to try to save her children. She couldn’t escape the fire a second time.

Tacket and the Allens said the smoking scenario is uncharacteristic of Kennetha, who was a doting mother. “I don’t believe it,” said Janis Allen. “She was an excellent mother.”

A Montgomery County Coroner’s official said Saturday, Nov. 14, autopsies had been completed, but the cause of death for Kennetha and her children was pending. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2342 or cmagan@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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hi my name is cortne and i really dont know these poeple. but i am soooo sorry randy for the lost of your love ones. kennetha you are a hero in your own way im glad you tryed to save your kids and i will this family in preyers. god bless

cortne
8:34 AM, 11/18/2009

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This is very sad auntie you and the family will truly be missed and loved:)

tears are coming just looking at this article but now i know you and my cousins are in good hands.. love you your neice celeste xoxo

celeste
9:05 AM, 11/17/2009

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He was probably at work. He appeared to have a large family to take care of. Very sad story

Tiffany
7:58 AM, 11/15/2009

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DDN: Why haven't you taken HELLO'S comments off this page. There is a special place in hell for HELLO. I hope he is able to go there soon.

Tim
7:08 AM, 11/15/2009

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Im so sorry to randy and his family for this horriable loss of thier loves ones... your whole family is in my prayers... And i would like to honor Kennetha for trying to go get back in to get her kids cuz in my eyes she is a hero!

sheena
5:19 PM, 11/14/2009

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