Neighbors Horrified As 15-Month-Old Boy Dies In West Tulsa Duplex Fire
Jeff McBride,Jacob Bell,Jen Jennings
Nov 10 2011
http://www.newson6.com/story/1600599...sa-duplex-fireTULSA, Oklahoma -- Tulsa firefighters found the body of 15-month-old boy in a back bedroom of a duplex damaged by fire early Thursday.
The fire was so intense firefighters had to wait to begin a search of the building. Tulsa Fire got the alarm just before 6 a.m. in the 1400 block of West Admiral.
Firefighters went in the front door, but were forced back out because of the intensity of the fire.
Neighbors watched in horror -- knowing that a baby was trapped inside with no way out.
Four people escaped the burning duplex, including a mother -- hysterical, because her 15-month-old was in grave danger.
"She was just hollering, 'My baby's inside! My baby's inside!'" Said Fred Pace, neighbor.
Firefighters saw nothing but a sea of orange flames in the back bedroom. They put out the fire, but couldn't rescue the boy in time.
"You never feel like it's a success whenever it ends like this. But they did the very best," said Asst. Tulsa Fire Chief Mike Bailey.
"I saw the ambulance load the body bag and all that. Both of us broke down into tears because of the infant. That's horrible," said Gary McGrady, neighbor.
Neighbors say words can't describe how they feel, or what they saw next.
"It was getting going. It was growing faster," said Tulsa Fire Cpt. Gerry Benefield.
The terrible tragedy left neighbors wishing they could have saved the boy.
"If I had known that baby was there, you bet I would have," said Gary McGrady, neighbor.
The connecting duplex sustained smoke and water damage. Two people who lived in that portion of the duplex made it out safely.[...]
'Major Meth Cook' Arrested After Tulsa Toddler Dies In Duplex Fire
A 15-month-old boy died at that duplex Thursday when a fire engulfed his home.
Nov 14, 2011
http://www.newson6.com/story/1603980...in-duplex-fireTULSA, Oklahoma -
Fire investigators arrested two more people on drug charges after a fire killed a Tulsa toddler. They say one admitted to making meth at the duplex that went up in flames last week.
A 15-month-old boy died at that duplex Thursday when a fire engulfed his home. Now investigators have rounded up three people, all accused of meth related crimes.
In front of the blackened duplex is a sad reminder of what was lost, a memorial bouquet and a half-melted red wagon.
Fire investigators are still sifting through the charred rubble to find out what sparked the fire that killed the toddler.
"Heartbreaking, when we lose the life of a little one like that," said Gary McGrady, neighbor.
When firefighters arrived on the scene, the back bedroom was wall of flames. Four grown-ups escaped the burning duplex, including the baby's mother. But fire crews couldn't save the toddler.
Now three people are behind bars on meth-related charges. Jacob Bell was arrested first, accused of child endangerment and drug possession. Now investigators have a man they call a "major meth cook" in custody, Jeffrey McBride.
McBride has a rap sheet that goes back to the 1993. He was in and out of prison for ten years for various crimes, including drug possession and felony kidnapping.
Investigators say McBride had a string of warrants out for his arrest for drug-related offenses. They tracked him down at a North Tulsa home, where they say they found a large amount of ingredients to make meth.
Investigators also say after McBride was arrested, he admitted to making meth at the duplex the day before the deadly fire.
Charles Spencer wasn't linked to that fire, but he was arrested. Police say he owned the home with all of the meth ingredients.
Investigators ask neighbors to be vigilant and report suspicious activity. They say tips from ordinary people just like you have been crucial to several arrests in the last few weeks.
Tulsa Fire Department Makes Two Meth Lab Arrests
Nov 14 2011Jeffery Wayne McBride (left) and Charles Timothy Spencer
http://www.newson6.com/story/1602879...th-lab-arrests
Two Men, Woman Charged In Deadly Meth Fire In Tulsa
March 15 2012
http://www.newson6.com/story/1716216...adly-meth-fireTULSA, Oklahoma -
Tulsa County prosecutors have charged three people with felony murder and child neglect, among other things, in a meth fire that killed a 15-month-old boy last year.
Prosecutors say Jennifer Jennings, Jacob Bell and Jeffrey McBride all made it out of the home on West Admiral when it caught fire back in November. But the 15-month-old baby didn't.
[...]








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