During a news conference on Monday, Irondequoit Police Chief Scott Peters addressed a heartbreaking house fire on Knapp Avenue. "This was a horrific scene; in nearly 13 years in this job, I’ve never witnessed anything like it," Peters said.
Emergency responders were dispatched to the fire early Saturday morning at around 5:30 AM. They quickly brought the flames under control, but upon searching the basement, they discovered the bodies of two young children: 2-year-old Sebastian Ubaldo-Moreno and 4-year-old Evangeline Ubaldo-Moreno. The remains of a 30-year-old man, Fraime Ubaldo, and a 26-year-old woman, Marangely Moreno-Santiago, were also found at the scene.
Chief Peters noted, "Given the condition of the bodies, it was immediately clear that this would be treated as a homicide investigation." The Irondequoit Police Department, with assistance from fire crews, spent nearly two days collecting evidence from the location. After identifying the victims, officials began efforts to reach out to family members residing in other states.
County records indicate that Fraime Ubaldo purchased the home in 2021. In the wake of this tragedy, friends and family are seeking assistance from the community to cover funeral expenses. A Facebook user named Bridget Marie confirmed the identities of the victims and set up a GoFundMe campaign to support funeral costs. In her post, she expressed her shock and grief, mentioning that her sister-in-law lost her best friend and two godchildren in the fire. She characterized Marangely as a loving and devoted mother and requested donations to help with burial expenses, urging others to share the fundraiser even if they cannot contribute financially.
Xiomara Weeks, who established the GoFundMe account, shared her devastation in a message stating, "Yesterday, August 31, 2024, I received the worst news I could. Between 5-5:30 AM, a call came in to the police for a house on fire. Once the firefighters arrived, they were able to get the fire under control; however, my best friend Marangely, and her two children, Evangeline, 4, and Sebastian, 2, my god babies, didn't make it."
The funds raised will go towards funeral expenses for all three victims. "If you can't donate, please share and most importantly, pray for us all," Weeks added.
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