Photos: Five young children perish in East St. Louis apartment fire
Five children ranging in age from two to nine were killed as a result of an early morning apartment fire in East St. Louis on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Family, friends and community members poured out to grieve the loss and support the family.
Photos by Robert Cohen, Daniel Shular, and Laurie Skrivan / St. Louis Post-Dispatch staff
East St. Louis fire kills 5 children
Kenneth Jennings, right, helps hold crime scene tape as a hearse carrying the remains of children leaves the scene of an East St. Louis apartment fire in the 500 block of 29th Street on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Jennings lives in the basement of the apartments and escaped with a few belongings. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
East St. Louis fire kills 5 children
Duwanna Davis waits to leave a teddy bear donated by 7-year-old Malaya Cannon in memory of the five children who died in an East St. Louis apartment fire in the 500 block of 29th Street on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
East St. Louis fire kills 5 children
Investigators work outside an apartment building at 560 29th Street in East St. Louis after an early morning fire resulted in the deaths of five children on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
East St. Louis fire kills 5 children
Family members of five children killed in an East St. Louis apartment fire gather on 29th Street as they watch the investigation on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
East St. Louis fire kills 5 children
Ambulance workers leave the scene after helping move children killed in an East St. Louis fire to a hearse in the 500 block of 29th Street on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Five children died as the result of an apartment fire. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
East St. Louis fire kills 5 children
Duwanna Davis arranges teddy bears and balloons in memory of five children who died in an East St. Louis apartment fire in the 500 block of 29th Street on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
East St. Louis fire kills 5 children
Sabrina Dunigan, the mother of five children killed in an East St. Louis apartment fire, leaves the scene of the fire in the 500 block of 29th Street on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Several family members identified Dunigan as the mother of the children. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
East St. Louis fire kills 5 children
The bodies of children killed in an East St. Louis apartment fire are moved to a hearse in the 500 block of 29th Street on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
East St. Louis fire kills 5 children
An East St. Louis firefighter rests as the bodies of children killed in an East St. Louis apartment fire are moved in the 500 block of 29th Street on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
East St. Louis fire kills 5 children
An East St. Louis police chaplain escorts a family member to talk with the mother of five children killed in an East St. Louis apartment fire in the 500 block of 29th Street on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
East St. Louis fire kills 5 children
An East St. Louis firefighter rests as the bodies of children killed in an East St. Louis apartment fire are moved in the 500 block of 29th Street on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
East St. Louis fire kills 5 children
Funeral home workers prepare to recover the bodies of children killed in an East St. Louis apartment fire in the 500 block of 29th Street on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
East St. Louis fire kills 5 children
An investigator with the Illinois State Fire Marshal finishes his work in East St. Louis at the scene of an apartment fire where five children were killed in the 500 block of 29th Street on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
East St. Louis fire kills 5 children
Rudy McIntosh, retired from the East St. Louis Police Department and owner of apartment building where five children died, walks out of its door at 560 29th Street in East St. Louis on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
East St. Louis fire kills 5 children
Friends of the mother of five children killed in an East St. Louis apartment fire gather on 29th Street as they watch the investigation on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
East St. Louis fire kills 5 children
Duwanna Davis waits to leave a teddy bear donated by seven-year-old Malaya Cannon in memory of the five children who died in an East St. Louis apartment fire in the 500 block of 29th Street on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Vigil held for five children who died in house fire
Tiffany Smith, center, places five prayer candles with her children Nalana Williams, 4, left, and Christopher Young, 11, near the stoop leading up to the apartment where an overnight fire killed five children on Friday, August 6, 2021, in East St. Louis. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
Vigil held for five children who died in house fire
Marshata Caradine hold a sign supporting Sabrina Dunigan, the mother of the five children who died in an overnight fire, near the building where it happened on Friday, August 6, 2021, in East St. Louis. "People are blaming the mom and people need to stand in solidarity with her," Caradine said, "She needs support." Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
Vigil held for five children who died in house fire
Five prayer candles, one for each child who died in an overnight apartment fire, sit near the stoop leading up to the building on Friday, August 6, 2021, in East St. Louis. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
Vigil held for five children who died in house fire
Police crime scene tape surrounds the front yard of an apartment building where five children died in an overnight fire on Friday, August 6, 2021, in East St. Louis. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
Vigil held for five children who died in house fire
Latasha Johnson of East St. Louis wipes away tears after leaving balloons at a memorial near the apartment building where an overnight fire killed five children on Friday, August 6, 2021, in East St. Louis. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
Vigil held for five children who died in house fire
Marshata Caradine hold a sign supporting Sabrina Dunigan, the mother of the five children who died in an overnight fire, near the building where it happened on Friday, August 6, 2021, in East St. Louis. "People are blaming the mom and people need to stand in solidarity with her," Caradine said, "She needs support." Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
Vigil held for five children who died in house fire
Pastor Doug Hollis opens the vigil for the five children who died in an overnight house fire in East St. Louis on Friday, August 6, 2021. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
Vigil held for five children who died in house fire
Elder Carolyn Rice Smith from the Empowerment of Grace Ministry prays into a microphone while standing with Alonzo Wright, right, the next door neighbor to the apartment building that caught fire overnight, during the vigil for the five children who died in an overnight house fire in East St. Louis on Friday, August 6, 2021. Wright announced during the vigil he was donating all of the money he will get selling his Camaro to the Dunigan family. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
Vigil held for five children who died in house fire
Balloons are released at a vigil for the five children who died in an overnight house fire in East St. Louis on Friday, August 6, 2021. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
Vigil held for five children who died in house fire
Sheila Dunigan, aunt of Sabrina Dunigan, left, is comforted by Elder Carolyn Rice Smith from the Empowerment of Grace Ministry, center, and her sister Loletta Hoskins during a vigil for five children who died in an overnight house fire in East St. Louis on Friday, August 6, 2021. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
Vigil held for five children who died in house fire
The crowd gathered at a vigil for five children who died in an overnight house fire in East St. Louis erupt into cheering as news that the funerals for all of the children have been paid for and nearly $10,000 had been raised for the family on Friday, August 6, 2021. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
Vigil held for five children who died in house fire
East St. Louis Committee person Lonnie Slater speaks at a vigil for five children who died in an overnight house fire in East St. Louis on Friday, August 6, 2021. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
Vigil held for five children who died in house fire
Sheila Dunigan, aunt of Sabrina Dunigan, left, speaks while standing with Terra Jenkins of Silence to Violence Outreach during a vigil for five children who died in an overnight house fire in East St. Louis on Friday, August 6, 2021. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
Vigil held for five children who died in house fire
Prayer candles light the memorial for five children who died in an overnight fire in East St. Louis on Friday, August 6, 2021. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
Vigil held for five children who died in house fire
Alonzo Wright's Camaro sits in his driveway during the vigil for five children who died in an overnight house fire in East St. Louis on Friday, August 6, 2021. Wright announced he was donating all of the money he will get selling his Camaro to the Dunigan family. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
East St. Louis fire kills 5 children
"I have been crying all morning," said Harriet Stevenson, who brings balloons to add to a growing memorial for five children who died in an East St. Louis apartment fire on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, along the 500 block of 29th Street. Stevenson said she survived a house fire in 1983. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
East St. Louis fire kills 5 children
"I heard about it on the news this morning," said Nicole Jackson, who contributes to a donation fund started at the Big C convenient store for the five children who died in an apartment fire on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in East St. Louis. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
East St. Louis fire kills 5 children
"I work at the community center. I know the kids," said Merinda Quarles, who chokes up after sitting in her car in front of the apartment where of five children died in an apartment fire on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, along the 500 block of 29th Street in East St. Louis. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
East St. Louis fire kills 5 children
"I didn't even know them. I have kids of my own," said Jovan L, who adds balloons to a growing memorial for five children who died in an East St. Louis apartment fire on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, along the 500 block of 29th Street. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Robert Cohen
Robert Cohen is a photographer at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The siblings, who ranged in age from 2 to 9, died on their mother's birthday. Authorities haven't said how the fire started.
Coroner said autopsies on four of the children determined they died of smoke inhalation.