An 11-year-old girl became the sole survivor of a deadly fire caused by her mentally ill father, jumping from a second-story window to escape the flames, according to reports.
The child, known only as Lulu, only suffered minor injuries. He then ran to his neighbor for help.
Her father, Salvatore Ragusa, who suffers from schizophrenia, is believed to have killed the mother and two younger sisters before setting fire to the home in Wallingford, according to reports.
Ragusa, 48, committed suicide. Authorities later found Lulu’s mother, Lana Stewart, her 7-year-old brother and her 4-year-old sister dead inside, according to the Seattle Times.
The door of the house was barred.
The family dog, Rosie, was also found dead.
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Stewart died of multiple blunt force injuries, while her two children died of smoke-related injuries, according to Fox 13 Seattle. All three of their deaths have been ruled homicides.
A little girl, known only as Lulu, told neighbors about the fire after slipping out of a window and running for help, suffering minor injuries. GoFundMe
When police arrived at the home, they found the door barred and firefighters spent 45 minutes fighting the fire before being able to enter the home.
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Stewart died of multiple blunt force injuries, while her two children died of smoke-related injuries.
Police did not disclose the relationship between Ragusa and the family, but neighbors referred to him and Stewart as a couple who lived together, according to the Seattle Times.
Stewart’s sister said Ragusa suffered from schizophrenia and subjected her family to “lies, manipulation, uncertainty, and forced isolation. Ragusa completed a court-ordered mental health program 19 months ago, according to KIRO 7.
“Yes, family means everything to me. And, yes. We have to be good to each other,” Ragusa said during a February 2022 appearance in mental health court, the outlet reported.
Three years ago, Ragusa also set fire to another home Stewart lived in, according to KIRO 7. When Seattle Police arrived at the home, Ragusa was standing on the roof with a rope around his neck and threatening to jump, according to the Report.
The fire is being treated as arson-murder. Police did not disclose the relationship between Ragusa and the family, but neighbors referred to her and Stewart as a live-in couple.
Ragusa also set fire to another home Stewart lived in three years ago, according to KIRO 7. When Seattle Police arrived at the home, Ragusa was standing on the roof with a rope around his neck and threatening to jump.
Lulu with her mother and siblings.
Stewart’s relatives said the mother of three tried to keep the family together despite Ragusa’s mental illness. Before his health problems, he was reportedly a loving father, KIRO 7 reported.
Lulu’s aunt, Adrea Stewart-Sloniker, started a GoFundMe page for her niece, who she called “brave.” So far it has raised more than $61,000.
“Lulu has always been known as a chatty & loving girl who always puts family first. As he gets older and more aware of his condition, he often takes on a protective but nurturing role. So I’m not surprised he jumped 16 feet out of a window to help others survive. He thought he was going back to save his brother & sister after asking for help,” Stewart-Sloniker wrote at the fundraiser.
The funds will be used for the pre-teen’s rehabilitation, as well as his education, his aunt said.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free, confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
