A mother in North Carolina has been charged following a tragic house fire that killed her four young daughters. Authorities say the children, aged 2, 4, 6, and 7, were left at home under the care of an 11-year-old sibling when the blaze broke out.
The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) reported that police responded to the residence at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 30, after a woman called to report her home was on fire and that her children were inside.
“When the first deputy arrived on scene nine minutes after the initial call, the residence was fully engulfed in flames. Due to the severity of the fire, it was not possible to make a safe entry into the home,” police said. Tragically, all four children perished in the fire.
The children’s mother, 28-year-old Reagan Powers, was not present at the time of the fire. Investigators say she had left the children in the care of an 11-year-old, according to reports from WECT 6. Powers was subsequently arrested and charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter and negligent child abuse with serious bodily injury on Wednesday, September 10.
Powers appeared in court for the first time on Thursday, September 11. The judge informed her that each count of involuntary manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 59 months, while each count of negligent child abuse carries a maximum of 88 months, according to Columbus County News.
Her bond was initially set at $400,000, and she has since bonded out. In the wake of the tragedy, the children’s father, Patrick Ellis, expressed his grief, telling WWAY 3, “My heart is shattered beyond words at the loss of my daughters.”
The community has come together to mourn the loss. Over 100 people attended a memorial service for the four children on Tuesday, September 9, at a funeral home in Chadbourn, reflecting the deep impact of the tragedy on the local community.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire, but initial reports indicate that negligence played a role in the deaths of the young girls. The case has sparked a wider conversation about child supervision and safety in the community, underscoring the devastating consequences of leaving young children unattended.