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Police continue probe into tragic arson caseBy DAVID FUSAROSomeone in Chicago Heights knows who set the East side fire that claimed eight lives last December 13, and police believe they will eventually know, tooBut for now. the department has little to go on in determining who is responsible for the worst fire tragedy in the city’s history, one that killed six children and two adults in a four-flat apartment building at 1529 Wentworth avenue.The fire began about 2 a m. on that date, when an explosion blew open a door to a second floor apartment that contained the eight victims and two survivors.TWO FAMILIES were living in the upstairs apartment, which reportedly was rented by one of the victims, 19-year-old Judith Kimble. Ms. Kimble's boyfriend, Joseph Scales, 19, and his half-sister, Ernestine Gaston. 26, survived.Dead were Mrs. Gaston's husband, Otis Terry, 33, and children Otis Terry. Jr., six months; Angela Terry Gaston, 2; La-tasha Lashon Gaston, 3; Lelia Patricia Gaston. 4; Andrew Santana Gaston, 8, and Ann Marie Gaston, 9.The list of victims could have been longer if two women who lived on the firstfloor had not moved out the precedingday.Maureen Thomas and Vanessa Young occupied the building's two first floor apartments But a fire two days before the tragic blaze burned part of the attic and both apartments were badly damaged by smoke and water, forcing the women to move outMISS THOMAS at that time said the attic fire was the third in less than two weeks in the building, which is owned bv Edward Gnaster, retired Chicago Heights fire department captain All three previous fires were also believed to have been set.“A rapidly accelerating fire which be gan in a first floor stairwell,” was how city fire investigator Lt A1 Ross described the final, most tragic blaze. Simply put, that means arsonOh, it’s definitely arson,” Det. Donald Collins said last week. Initial tests at the scene and evidence from the state crime lab indicated that much But finding a suspect and pinning it on him — that will be the tough part.”Police Lt Kenneth Johnson said many leads have been chased down, but most have been unfruitful.THEY’VE RESULTED in several suspects being cleared, including several people who lived in the building and the earliest suspect, an East side man, who Joe Scales had an altercation with, just prior to the fire.” Johnson said. “Just eliminating certain suspects is a help in the investigation.”The lieutenant added that investigators are still actively checking other leads which may bring a solution — some dayThe one thing we (the police* have in our favor is time,” Johnson said Eventually, everybody but one suspect is going to be excluded, or maybe one day somebody will hear some talk in the neighborhood and it will get back to usHe said the trading of valuable information by a lawbreaker for police leniency is not uncommon, particularly when it involves such an important investigationIT MAY TAKE a while, but it will happen,” he saidJohnson said anyone with information about the fire should call Chicago Heights police detective division at 754-2121 All information will be kept confidential, he pointed out.
Newspaper Details
Chicago Heights Star
Chicago Heights, Illinois, US
Sun, Jan 27, 1980
Page 1
Full Page
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USA 03 Dec 2023
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