Family of 6 lost their home in fire
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Action News article
March 16th 2017 10:30 pm a family of 6 lost their home due to a fire started by the mothers ex-husband after he beat her.
Michelle has asked me to tell the whole story in one place for all of our loved ones to be able to read it.
Eugene wanted to use Michelle's cell phone but she was currently on her phone and suggested he use another of the phones in the house. He became hostile and screaming at her. Then the abuse began. He repeatedly punched her in the face; kicked her more times than she can count in her chest and stomach. He knew well she has breathing and asthma issues not to mention she has had 5 major surgeries on her stomach and abdominal area in the past 8 months. Elaine, Michelle's mother, heard the ruckus and tried to stop his horrific violent acts on her daughter. Eugene then turned his rage onto Elaine. He rapidly punched her three times in the face, then proceeded to drag her down an entire flight of stairs.
The children ran out of the home and across the street to my house. My three nieces aged 18, 8, 6 and nephew aged 12 came barreling through my door screaming and crying. It took a few moments for me to calm them down to see what was going on. Then I heard one of them cry out "he is beating mom, help us Aunt Ami!" I immediately dialed 911 and ran outside. While I was on the phone with dispatch I saw my sister hobbling towards the street bleeding profusely from her face, crying, and screaming over and over again "HELP ME". My husband ran off the porch and helped her the remaining several feet up to the safety of our home and went back across the street to help mom.
Michelle began coughing up blood and Eugene came over in front of our house yelling many different threats to everyone here, including the babies. He then went back into my sisters home and broke the glass in a few windows, I know because we heard it loud and clear. Then came back out scaring the kids more with his taunts and threats.
Obviously our children were terrified and trying to get to their mother and aunt. While talking to dispatch, trying to settle the kids as well as my sister, I was also trying to keep my husband calm because he wanted to rip into Eugene. I locked the porch screen door on the outside to keep them from leaving the safety of our house and continued reporting it all to 911 dispatch.
After hearing more threats, more blood coughed up, more cries from the frightened babies, rescue and JSO finally arrived after what seemed like an eternity. The officer secured and cuffed Eugene and placed him in the back of his cruiser. Then my porch was flooded with EMT's, Firemen, and JSO Officers. They were interviewing all of us to get our statements and checking my sister's and mom's injuries. I happened to smell smoke, and it wasn't from my husbands cigarettes. I looked across at my sisters house and saw smoke billowing from the back of her house. I screamed out "Oh my god, he set my sisters house on fire!" My porch cleared within a blink of an eye. Everyone raced to get the fire trucks in place. Michelle was screaming about her animals still in the house. She had 4 small dogs and a sweet kitten in the house, alone and scared.
I was trying to console the kids and my sister and hold it together myself. I had to be strong! Inside I was a wreck. I cannot imagine how my sister felt watching with blood streaked eyes- her house ablaze with her fur babies still inside.
I saw one dog run across the street (we finally found her the day after), an EMT had another and placed him in an ambulance, a firemen carried another that I was able to get my hands on and take over to the kids who were watching through the front window.
More screams and tears from all of us as we watched everything they owned go up in flames. They were finally able to put the fire out but nothing is salvageable. One of their beloved dogs and their cat died in the fire from suffocation. More devastation for the family.
Their family pictures gone, the treasures the children have made over the years, clothing, shoes, furniture, you name it- gone in a matter of minutes.
Michelle spent the night at Shands under medical surveillance to make sure he did not cause more damage than what showed visually. She was able to come to my house the next day, having spent over 14 hours in a hospital bed and many tests and catscans.
They survived the fire but the devastation and fear they suffered will never go away. They are left with nothing but what they were wearing and each others love.
I know most of you reading this have never met us and have no reason to help. Even if you can only give a prayer, words of encouragement, or even sharing this post so that it will reach other people, that will help so much. American Red Cross has helped where they could. It was recommended we try here. They are having to start all over with nothing. A struggling mother of 5, 4 still living at home and a grandmother who is the sole provider for this family are very appreciative of anything raised to help them start over from dust.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story, and thank you immensely for your support and help.
Bright Blessings
News4Jax article
March 16th 2017 10:30 pm a family of 6 lost their home due to a fire started by the mothers ex-husband after he beat her.
Michelle has asked me to tell the whole story in one place for all of our loved ones to be able to read it.
Eugene wanted to use Michelle's cell phone but she was currently on her phone and suggested he use another of the phones in the house. He became hostile and screaming at her. Then the abuse began. He repeatedly punched her in the face; kicked her more times than she can count in her chest and stomach. He knew well she has breathing and asthma issues not to mention she has had 5 major surgeries on her stomach and abdominal area in the past 8 months. Elaine, Michelle's mother, heard the ruckus and tried to stop his horrific violent acts on her daughter. Eugene then turned his rage onto Elaine. He rapidly punched her three times in the face, then proceeded to drag her down an entire flight of stairs.
The children ran out of the home and across the street to my house. My three nieces aged 18, 8, 6 and nephew aged 12 came barreling through my door screaming and crying. It took a few moments for me to calm them down to see what was going on. Then I heard one of them cry out "he is beating mom, help us Aunt Ami!" I immediately dialed 911 and ran outside. While I was on the phone with dispatch I saw my sister hobbling towards the street bleeding profusely from her face, crying, and screaming over and over again "HELP ME". My husband ran off the porch and helped her the remaining several feet up to the safety of our home and went back across the street to help mom.
Michelle began coughing up blood and Eugene came over in front of our house yelling many different threats to everyone here, including the babies. He then went back into my sisters home and broke the glass in a few windows, I know because we heard it loud and clear. Then came back out scaring the kids more with his taunts and threats.
Obviously our children were terrified and trying to get to their mother and aunt. While talking to dispatch, trying to settle the kids as well as my sister, I was also trying to keep my husband calm because he wanted to rip into Eugene. I locked the porch screen door on the outside to keep them from leaving the safety of our house and continued reporting it all to 911 dispatch.
After hearing more threats, more blood coughed up, more cries from the frightened babies, rescue and JSO finally arrived after what seemed like an eternity. The officer secured and cuffed Eugene and placed him in the back of his cruiser. Then my porch was flooded with EMT's, Firemen, and JSO Officers. They were interviewing all of us to get our statements and checking my sister's and mom's injuries. I happened to smell smoke, and it wasn't from my husbands cigarettes. I looked across at my sisters house and saw smoke billowing from the back of her house. I screamed out "Oh my god, he set my sisters house on fire!" My porch cleared within a blink of an eye. Everyone raced to get the fire trucks in place. Michelle was screaming about her animals still in the house. She had 4 small dogs and a sweet kitten in the house, alone and scared.
I was trying to console the kids and my sister and hold it together myself. I had to be strong! Inside I was a wreck. I cannot imagine how my sister felt watching with blood streaked eyes- her house ablaze with her fur babies still inside.
I saw one dog run across the street (we finally found her the day after), an EMT had another and placed him in an ambulance, a firemen carried another that I was able to get my hands on and take over to the kids who were watching through the front window.
More screams and tears from all of us as we watched everything they owned go up in flames. They were finally able to put the fire out but nothing is salvageable. One of their beloved dogs and their cat died in the fire from suffocation. More devastation for the family.
Their family pictures gone, the treasures the children have made over the years, clothing, shoes, furniture, you name it- gone in a matter of minutes.
Michelle spent the night at Shands under medical surveillance to make sure he did not cause more damage than what showed visually. She was able to come to my house the next day, having spent over 14 hours in a hospital bed and many tests and catscans.
They survived the fire but the devastation and fear they suffered will never go away. They are left with nothing but what they were wearing and each others love.
I know most of you reading this have never met us and have no reason to help. Even if you can only give a prayer, words of encouragement, or even sharing this post so that it will reach other people, that will help so much. American Red Cross has helped where they could. It was recommended we try here. They are having to start all over with nothing. A struggling mother of 5, 4 still living at home and a grandmother who is the sole provider for this family are very appreciative of anything raised to help them start over from dust.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story, and thank you immensely for your support and help.
Bright Blessings
News4Jax article
Organizer
Serenity Ami
Organizer
Jacksonville, FL
