Honduran family shaken by fire that left four children dead speaks out for the first time
The Honduran family who lost four children after a fire broke out at the rental home they were living in near Miami International Airport spoke out for the first time since the tragedy.
On Thursday, Christopher Fernández, an uncle of the four children, visited the cream-colored house, which is located at 3621 NW 18th Terr. and now has boarded-up windows, to pick up some items. He also stopped by a nearby house to thank the neighbor who tried to break the windows and rescue the children during Monday’s fire.
Fernández then stood by the main entrance of the burnt house, close to a brown teddy bear and some white flowers that someone left there as a show of support, and held a brief press conference. Not far away, toys were lying at the side of the home, including a pink bicycle.
“We mourn, we’re heartbroken,” said 32-year-old Fernández, before breaking down crying inside his car. “There’s not too many words I can say right now. I just ask for well wishes, some love and support.”
The uncle clarified that Neziyah Fernández, 1, Nomar López, 6, and NainaLee López, 8, were siblings. HeyLin Mejía, 11, was a cousin of the other three. Initial reports published by the Miami Herald with information provided by the Miami Police Department referred to all four of the children as siblings.
The children were living with their grandmother, 57-year-old Norma Bonilla, in the home, a friend of the grandmother said. It’s unclear if the parents of the children also lived there.
The case remains under investigation, according to Michael Vega, spokesman for the Miami police. Fernández said the house has smoke detectors inside, but didn’t comment further on the cause of the fire.
Miami-Dade property records say the house is owned by Miami resident Ronald Firman. Sunbiz.org lists Bonilla at that address as a director for one of Firman’s companies, The Firman Foundation. Firman has not been accepting phone calls.
Fernández on Thursday talked about his nieces and nephews.
“They will always live in our hearts,” he said. “We have many memories with them.”
The youngest, Neziyah, loved dancing and playing with his siblings — NainaLee and Nomar.
NainaLee and Nomar enjoyed going to the park and JumpZone, and loved swimming. Both attended a BridgePrep Academy.
Their cousin, HeyLin, loved doing her hair and watching scary movies. “She was so bright,” said her uncle, who added she attended SLAM charter school.
Three of the children, all except for NainaLee, died Monday afternoon, shortly after Miami Fire Rescue firefighters took them to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. NainaLee passed away Wednesday.
Darren Caprara, a spokesman for the Miami-Dade County coroner’s office, said the official cause of death for the three children who died Monday was smoke inhalation. The “manner was accidental.” NainaLee’s autopsy has not yet been completed, according to Caprara.
A relative of the family opened a GoFundMe page Wednesday to pay for the costs associated with the funerals and fire damage. Fernández said the family has yet to plan the funerals.
Madeline Purdue, a GoFundMe spokesperson, confirmed the account is legitimate.
Jocelyn Perry, who identified herself as a cousin of one of the fathers of the kids, created the fundraising page. She said she lives in Virginia and learned about the news through her Facebook account.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said 39-year-old Perry. “I cried. It was devastating.”
By Thursday afternoon, the page had raised nearly $10,000 of its $25,000 goal.
The GoFundMe page identifies Jamie Propst and Sylvia Avila-Propst as HeyLin’s parents, and Jasmine Lopez as the mother of Neziyah, Nomar and NainaLee.
On Thursday, Fernández urged the community to donate.
“We need the support from South Florida,” he said. “We’ve never been one to burden anyone. We’ve always taken care of our things, but we need the community right now.”
A friend of the family, who did not want to be identified, said the family had plans to ring in the new year at Disney World. She said they had planned to leave for Orlando the morning of Dec. 31.
According to the police, rescuers also took Bonilla and her daughter to the hospital Monday with minor injuries. Fernández said both women had already been discharged.
“Physically, they are well; mentally, they are doing poorly,” Fernández said.
Another family friend, 40-year-old Edson Garcia, told a Herald reporter he drove from Kissimmee to Miami on Tuesday to support Bonilla, whom he met more than 12 years ago when he lived in Miami.
He said Bonilla is a “special” grandmother, and that she broke down Tuesday when they hugged each other.
“You know how much I love my grandchildren; you know I’ve been there for them all my life,” García recalled Bonilla told him at the hospital.
García, who immigrated to the United States at the age of 10 from Honduras, is a comedian and said the Garifuna community, an indigenous group of Honduras, is hurting. Bonilla’s family is Garifuna.
“We are all sorry,” Garcia said. “And this is not over. The funeral will be shocking; we have to prepare mentally.”
