Fatal fire family in hiding after people unfairly blame mum-of-six
A mum-of-six is in hiding after people unfairly blamed her on social media for the fatal blaze in which a teen boy died.
A mum-of-six is in hiding after people unfairly blamed her on social media for the fatal Macquarie Fields blaze in which a 14-year-old boy died a week ago.
The woman, who escaped the blaze with her six children after the flames quickly engulfed the house around 1.35am on June 30, has been living in emergency accommodation since.
But she has now been moved to another location a 30 minute drive away, and it is feared her children may have to change schools.
A church group is raising funds for the family who escaped the fire and sourcing furniture, white goods and clothing, as well as repairing a vehicle for them.
The woman and her children, who are aged between five and 17 years old, were largely unharmed.
But Tahma Teara-Jones, 14, who had snuck in for a sleepover from his grandmother’s house, was trapped.
Firefighters found his body in an upstairs room of the house on Montana Way; his grandmother is believed to live in a nearby street.
News.com.au understands the mother was unaware Tahma was in the house for a sleepover.
Social media comments about the mother of six follow other unfounded claims - posted on Snapchat last week - that a young man was responsible for lighting the fire.
Snapchat users posted a photograph of the man, commenting “your a dead man walking ya f*** little gronk” (sic).
On Facebook, a close friend of Tahma’s posted a tribute promising him the “boyz” would find the culprit who lit the fire was and “revenge you bro”.
News.com.au has learned that the mother and five of her children were all sleeping downstairs in the house, where they had been accommodated after being homeless.
One of the woman’s teenage sons, along with Tahma Teara-Jones, was sleeping upstairs when the fire broke out and smoke alarms sounded inside the Housing NSW dwelling.
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The teenage son jumped from a window of the burning building, but Tahma was trapped upstairs and succumbed to the fire.
The woman, who has undergone hours of interviews with the police, is said to be deeply affected by the fire and Tahma Teara-Jones’ death.
However, she was further traumatised when strangers on social media turned on her, unfairly blaming her for the fire.
Just over three hours before the fire broke out, an argument erupted in Montana Way which police are now investigating.
Another poster on Facebook said he had witnessed the horrific sound of people’s cries for help after the fire broke out.
Others said houses in the area were “fire traps” and should be demolished by the NSW Government.
A picture of who Tahma Teara-Jones was has emerged since his death, with friends posting tributes to the “bright energetic kid” who was friendly, made jokes and loved playing guitar.
Friends posted photos of the teen and wrote “Rest in paradise Tahma” and “Forever 14”.
One friend made a hip hop Tik Tok recording, promising “I’ll never forget you lad you're my lil brother … I’ll find out who did this to you.
“You have my word. All the boyz will revenge you bro.”
“RIP Tahma my g we’ve had some crack up times making fireworks and jamming at the skate park fly high lil homie”.
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