JACKSONVILLE, AR - Pulaski County Coroner Gerone Hobbs tells FOX16 News that smoke inhalation killed a mother and her four children in their Jacksonville duplex. Hobbs says they had soot and smoke in their lungs.
Fire crews responded to the scene early Thursday morning but the bodies weren’t discovered until a maintenance man found them around 7am.
Jacksonville Police identified the victims as:
- Marilyn Beavers, 30-years-old
- Dequan Singleton, 10-years-old
- Sydni Singleton, 9-years-old
- Haylee Beavers, 6-years-old
- Emily Beavers, 4-years-old
Neighbors are in disbelief.
“It’s hard to explain. It’s just sad, just so sad.”
Police say a neighbor smelled smoke and called Jacksonville Fire at 5am. But firefighters didn’t enter the home.
“I’m not all exactly sure what they did when they were here.”
An hour later, maintenance man Bobby Snow got a call to check again.
“I went around back and then I noticed, on the other end of the apartment, I noticed fire damage,” Snow said.
He called another maintenance man, went inside, and discovered the family.
“I don’t even want to think about it, it was terrible.”
“Just good people, the kids were full of life.”
Close family friend Barbara Brooks, overcome by the loss, says she regularly babysat the kids.
“I used to come out in this field and play football with them and tackle.”
Kirk green says his 10-year-old god son loved the football.
“Just coming up we were supposed to go to a field and practice football.”
Green says he loved the entire family.
“Losing four kids, I can’t imagine. But right now I’m feeling it because I feel like they were mine.”
Police say there is considerable smoke damage inside the duplex.
