Disabled girl, 3, dies in Hampton house fire started by suicidal mom, Destiny Wilson which also killed single mom with history of mental illness. Tragedy comes less than a month after ‘struggling’ parent sharing Facebook post praising her own mom.
A 3-year-old ‘disabled’ girl has died after her suicidal mom started a house fire that led to the 34-year-old parent also dying, Virginia authorities said.
Destiny Wilson, 34, poured gasoline on herself and set herself ablaze around 7am on Monday at her family’s Hampton street residence. After the fire sparked, Wilson’s mother and other family members tried to rush Wilson into a shower to put the flames out. The young daughter, Jamie Lee, was in the front of the home, the relative recalled speaking to Fox 8.
Soon after the flames spread into the room Jamie was in, with family members unable to reach the little girl, who was pronounced dead at the home, Hampton Fire & Rescue said on Tuesday.
History of mental illness and single mom overwhelmed raising disabled young daughter
When firefighters arrived at the scene, they heard people inside and immediately tried to put out the intense inferno, which was controlled by 7.21am.
Destiny died at the hospital after suffering severe burns, WTKR reported.
Her mother said her daughter has a mental illness and was overwhelmed caring for her daughter, who had autism, cerebral palsy, and a disorder that caused her to self-harm.
Destiny and her child were spending the weekend with her mother at the time of their deaths. Six people were inside the home when the fire started and a 10-year-old was among one of the survivors.
Wilson’s mother said that her daughter was previously institutionalized and had threatened suicide before.
Suicidal mom shared recent Facebook post praising her own mother
On Mother’s Day, May 10, Wilson shared a Facebook post praising her own mother.
‘This Mother’s Day felt so good to me just being with my family and actually able to make sure that my momma got everything she wanted.
‘Also I wanna thank God for keeping me and my siblings blessed that she’s here to spend it with us. A lot of us take things like that for granted until you no longer or never did have your mom here with you.
‘That’s just something I couldn’t imagine nor bare going thru if I had to. Idk how you all even find the strength to keep going , especially on days like this but I give yall a hand and I send up a prayer.
‘Well , before my night ended I just wanted to wish another Happy Mother’s Day to mommy Tawana Wilson and to all the other mothers,’ Destiny wrote.
A candlelight vigil and balloon release will be held at 7.30pm on Wednesday in honor of the mother and child, according to a flyer circulating on Facebook.
A Gofundme page has been launched to help the mother and baby’s family following the tragedy.
The money is set to go toward their funeral costs, clothing, food and shelter for Tawana and the rest of her family, she wrote in the fundraiser.
