East St. Louis community rallies to support mom who lost children in apartment fire
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Five children die in East St. Louis apartment fire
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On Tuesday afternoon, nearly 20 East St. Louis residents and other community members gathered outside of 560 N. 29th Street, where five children died in an apartment fire three months ago. They expressed their support for the children’s mom, Sabrina Dunigan, who was recently charged in connection with her kids’ deaths.
“We just ask you guys to continue to pray for Sabrina,” said the Rev. Larita Rice-Barnes, who organized the event. “Pray for the family.”
On Aug. 6, the five siblings died in an overnight fire in their apartment after Dunigan briefly left the apartment to take her boyfriend to work. The names of the children are: Deontae Davis Jr., 9; 8-year-old twins Neveah Dunigan and Heaven Dunigan; Jabari Johnson, 4; and Loy’el Dunigan, 2.
The fire was reported by Sabrina Dunigan when she returned home at 3:45 a.m. on August 6, her birthday. She tried to rescue her children, but four of them died at the scene and one died at a local hospital.
On Nov. 3, Dunigan was charged with five counts of endangering life/health of a child, alleging that she knowingly caused or permitted a child to be placed in circumstances that endangered the child’s life or health. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
‘She’s already been through a lot’
Tuesday’s rally was hosted by the Metro-East Organizing Coalition, where Rice-Barnes serves a president. She’s also the spokesperson for Dunigan’s family, who was present during the rally.
After the event, Rice-Barnes said she felt devastated upon hearing Dunigan’s charges.
“Obviously, she’s already been through a lot,” Rice-Barnes said. “There’s going to be a long road to recovery and healing for her. As a mother, to lose your children, but then have charges brought against you for it, is a devastating and tragic deal. It kind of sends you back into a pit that you’re already trying to work yourself up out of.”
Marshata Caradine, an East St. Louis resident, attended Tuesday’s rally. Shortly after the August fire, she stood outside of the N. 29th Street apartment building every night until the beginning of September. She wanted Dunigan, and others in the community, to know that she had the support of mothers in East St. Louis.
“I had a sense of urgency to get out and just stand in solidarity with the mom,” the mother of three said before Tuesday’s rally. “Social media is very cruel, and especially cruel to Black woman, especially in our inner cities, so we have these major milestones we’re supposed to reach, and we can’t even get off the ground. ...I just wanted to stand and humanize this woman who lost all of her children on the same day, you know.”
She said she doesn’t like the way Dunigan has been villified by some on social media.
“Her whole life is shattered,” Caradine said. “And how many of (the children were) in a one bedroom? Come on. That should be criminal. But it’s not because it’s a poor, Black (woman) and we’re in America. I think that should be criminal. Why is it that she couldn’t afford to have all of her babies in their own room? That is the question we should be asking in 2021, but we’re not.”
Tuesday’s rally was short. Rice-Barnes’ statements were joined by prayers from local clergy members. Still, it was powerful symbol of support for a family and community that hasn’t forgotten about the Aug. 6 fire.
Rice-Barnes said she doesn’t have any further plans for supporting Dunigan as of right now, but she’s focused on the family’s healing.
“Right now, I think the family as a whole is taking it day-by-day and the first and foremost concern is making sure that she can be as healthy as she can during this time and that she’s surrounded by support.” Rice-Barnes said. “We’re going to definitely continue to rally for support for the family so that those who are standing in solidarity would show up and be the community that’s needed.”
Rice-Barnes spoke at the children’s funeral.
“This is going to be a long journey for the family, but we know that with God and with the continued support of those who have come to stand in the gap with this family, that we all as a community and them as a family will be able to move forward with strength,” Rice-Barnes said.
Donations for Dunigan’s legal fees can be made here.
This story was originally published November 9, 2021 at 8:11 PM.
