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Mother Of 2 Boys Killed In North Versailles Fire Sentenced To Prison

caseyshea9 — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:40:37 +0000

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The mother two young boys who were killed in an apartment fire last June has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

Kiaira Pollard, 28, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to prison – a minimum of two years and no more than four.

The fire claimed the lives of her two sons, 7-year-old KiDonn and 4-year-old Krisdon.

“It’s very difficult,” she said. “I just miss my kids a lot.”

The fire broke out in the middle of a warm June night. Prosecutors said no adult was at home in the North Versailles apartment at the time.

The sentence was the result of a plea agreement and prosecutors said had the case gone to trial, they would have presented evidence to show Pollard had a history of leaving the kids home alone.

Krisdon’s father came to court Tuesday – not so much angry at the mother of his child about what happened, but angry about a loss that can never be replaced.

“I miss them both. I miss them both, terribly,” he said. “I think about them every day. I dreams about them thinking that they’re really there and when I wake up they’re not there and I get to myself and I do what any father would do – emotional wreck.”

Fire Forces Evacuations At North Versailles Apartment

angelakdka — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 11:50:53 +0000

NORTH VERSAILLES (KDKA) — A fire forced residents out of their apartments late Wednesday night in North Versailles.

The Eastland Apartments, just across from Primanti’s Bros. restaurant, were evacuated around 10 p.m.

Firefighters were there for more than an hour.

No injuries were reported, and so far there is word on a cause.

It was the same apartment complex where two young boys were killed after fire broke out in their apartment while they were home alone.

Their mother, Kiara Pollard, is awaiting trial.

Police say she was working as an exotic dancer when she left her boys, ages 4 and 7, alone.

They were trapped in the burning apartment.

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Bond Granted For Mother Of N. Versailles Fire Victims

caseyshea9 — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:55:51 +0000

NORTH VERSAILLES (KDKA) – A woman who is facing charges after her two sons died in a fire in June, was granted bond Monday morning.

Kiaira Pollard, 27, is accused of leaving her four and seven-year-old boys home alone while she worked as an exotic dancer.

Her attorneys waived her right to a preliminary hearing last week and the case will go to trial.

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She is facing charges of criminal homicide, endangering the welfare of children and tampering with a fire apparatus.

KiDonn Pollard-Ford, 7, was found dead by firefighters inside the apartment. His brother, Krisdon Williams-Pollard, 4, was discovered hiding under a bed. He was taken to the hospital for treatment, but later died.

Pollard appeared in court Monday by video.

“Understandably this woman has suffered the loss of her only two children,” Assistant DA Mark Tranquilli said. “As I said, it was not an intentionally-set fire – she’s not some firebug that’s going to go out and set half the city down.”

KDKA’s Jon Greiner reports it’s likely the charges against Pollard will be reduced at trial to possibly involuntary manslaughter.

Although she was able to attend the boys’ funeral, her attorney, Blaine Jones, said Pollard needs to grieve properly.

“She is in a tremendous amount of pain,” he said. “Krisdonn was 7, KiDonn was 4, and they were her world and her world’s been turned upside down and she should be given the ability to get out and grieve appropriately.”

Pollard will be given an electronic ankle bracelet which will monitor her movements. She also has to provide proof of employment and a telephone number to the court.

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Mom To Stand Trial In N. Versailles Fatal Fire Case

caseyshea9 — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:49:00 +0000

NORTH VERSAILLES (KDKA) – A mother of two boys who died in a fire in North Versailles in June will stand trial on homicide and other charges.

Kiaira Pollard, 27, is accused of leaving her four and seven-year-old boys home alone while she worked as an exotic dancer.

On Wednesday, her attorney waived her right to a preliminary hearing.

He said he’s asking that she be released on bond, which is unusual in a homicide case.

“It’s a quid pro quo. Basically, we agreed to waive in order for a no objection by the [District Attorney’s Office] when I argue for her bond to be reinstated because right now, Kiaira doesn’t have a bond,” defense attorney Blaine Jones said.

The request for a bond hearing will be heard by a common pleas judge later this week.

For now, Pollard remains in the Allegheny County Jail.

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Mother Of Boys Killed In Apartment Fire Turns Self In

hlang84 — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:45:07 +0000

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — One day after a warrant was issued for her arrest, the mother of two boys who died after fire broke out at an apartment in North Versailles has turned herself in.

The Allegheny County Police Department issued a warrant for 27-year-old Kiaira Pollard on Tuesday. She is facing charges of criminal homicide, endangering the welfare of children and tampering with a fire apparatus.

Pollard turned herself in shortly before 4 p.m. and was accompanied by her attorney.

“This is obviously a tragic situation for her and we’re going to try and handle this with class and grace and go through the process and I’ll be defending her every step of the way,” attorney Fred Rabner said.

Her whereabouts over the last two days are unknown at this time.

Investigators say Pollard is accused of leaving her two young sons, KiDonn Pollard-Ford and Krisdon Pollard-Williams, home alone when the fire broke out at the Eastland Apartments on June 30.

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KiDonn, 7, was found dead by firefighters inside the apartment. His brother, Krisdon, 4, was discovered hiding under a bed. He was taken to the hospital for treatment, but later died.

According to the criminal complaint, the mother said a babysitter had been watching the children. However, investigators say they do not believe a babysitter was ever there.

Police believed she may have been with 33-year-old Dayna Kenney. Investigators say there is currently no arrest warrant out for Kenney.

Police believe Kiaira Pollard may be with 33-year-old Dayna Kenney. (Photo Credit: Allegheny County Police Department/KDKA)

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After about an hour of questioning, Pollard was taken to the Allegheny County Jail, where she is expected to be arraigned later tonight.

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Arrest Warrant Issued For Mother In N. Versailles Fire

caseyshea9 — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 22:04:59 +0000

NORTH VERSAILLES (KDKA) – An arrest warrant has been issued for the mother of two young boys killed in a North Versailles apartment fire earlier this month.

Police are now looking for 27-year-old Kiaira Pollard. She is expected to be charged with homicide, endangering the welfare of children and tampering with a smoke detector.

Investigators said she left her sons, 7-year-old KiDonn Pollard-Ford and 4-year-old Krisdon Pollard-Williams, home alone when the fire broke out.

“It broke my heart. It really did because I was downstairs and I thought they had taken the one boy to the hospital and the other one out. I just happened to look over and I saw them bring out the body bag and that just broke my heart. I just cried,” Ruthann Devault said.

Devault called 911 and pounded on the door to the apartment, but it was locked with a deadbolt.

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Firefighters found Krisdon hiding under a bed. He later died due to smoke inhalation.

His brother was hiding under a pile of clothes, but was already dead when firefighters arrived.

According to the criminal complaint, the mother said a babysitter was watching the kids. However, investigators do not believe a babysitter was ever there.

“I mean, she’s a good lady okay? From what I’ve known of her she’s a good person. I can’t see her just leaving her children. But, if she did, she did,” neighbor Clifford Fisher said.

The affidavit says she disabled the smoke detector because it went off while she cooked.

Last year, an anonymous caller to Office of Children, Youth and Family Services told representatives that Pollard often left her children alone on Wednesdays while she worked.

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2nd Child Dies After Fire In North Versailles

hlang84 — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 23:34:46 +0000

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A second child has died following a fire at an apartment building in North Versailles last week.

According to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office, 4-year-old Krisdon Williams-Pollard died Friday afternoon at Children’s Hospital. On Sunday, the Medical Examiner’s Office ruled that the boy died of smoke inhalation.

His 7-year-old brother, KiDonn Pollard-Ford, was also killed in the fire, which broke out around 3 a.m. Thursday at the Eastland Apartments.

Authorities say the boys were found alone inside of an apartment that had been dead-bolted.

Allegheny County homicide detectives continue to investigate.

Meanwhile, people have been leaving behind toys and other mementos outside of the apartment building, setting up a makeshift memorial to the boys.

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1 Child Dead, Another Hospitalized After North Versailles Fire

hlang84 — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:30:38 +0000

NORTH VERSAILLES (KDKA) — Allegheny County homicide detectives continue to investigate after an overnight fire in North Versailles claimed the life of a young boy and sent his little brother to the hospital.

Fire crews were called to the Eastland Apartments just before 3 a.m.

Police and firefighters went door to door inside the building to get the residents out.

“The North Versailles Fire Department and police were knocking on everyone’s door telling them there was a fire in the building,” said Alexis Young, a resident.

On the third floor, officials say crews came to an apartment that was dead bolted. Authorities report that they broke through the lock and found two children inside.

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“The fire department arrived, made entry into the apartment. Inside the apartment, they found two children, one 6-year-old, one 4-year-old; by the time they found the 6-year-old, he had passed,” said Chief Vincent DiCenzo, of the North Versailles Police Department.

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the boy who died as KiDonn Pollard-Ford. He was going into the second grade at Green Valley Primary School.

“He was a great young man, straight-A student. It’s tough,” said Sean Gildea, the victim’s principal.

The boys apparently were left in the apartment home alone while their mother was out.

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The 4-year-old was taken from building unresponsive, but emergency crews managed to revive him. He was taken to Children’s Hospital and is listed in critical condition.

Authorities were questioning the mother, but officials say she had to be medicated at the hospital due to hysterics. She has not been identified.

With daylight, Allegheny County arson investigators sifted through the burnt-out apartments.

“My police officers are, you know, they’re all fathers and, it’s bothering them,” said Chief DiCenzo. “The firemen, I know they have a crisis team coming in for the firemen that were in there that found the children. I’ve been doing this for almost 30 years, any time it involves a child, it’s not easy.”

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Arrest Warrant Issued For Mother In N. Versailles Fire

hlang84 — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 22:04:00 +0000

NORTH VERSAILLES (KDKA) – An arrest warrant has been issued for the mother of two young boys killed in a North Versailles apartment fire earlier this month.

Police are now looking for 27-year-old Kiaira Pollard. She is expected to be charged with homicide, endangering the welfare of children and tampering with a smoke detector.

Investigators said she left her sons, 7-year-old KiDonn Pollard-Ford and 4-year-old Krisdon Pollard-Williams, home alone when the fire broke out.

Devault called 911 and pounded on the door to the apartment, but it was locked with a deadbolt.

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Firefighters found Krisdon hiding under a bed. He later died due to smoke inhalation.

His brother was hiding under a pile of clothes, but was already dead when firefighters arrived.

According to the criminal complaint, the mother said a babysitter was watching the kids. However, investigators do not believe a babysitter was ever there.

“I mean, she’s a good lady okay? From what I’ve known of her she’s a good person. I can’t see her just leaving her children. But, if she did, she did,” neighbor Clifford Fisher said.

The affidavit says she disabled the smoke detector because it went off while she cooked.

Last year, an anonymous caller to Office of Children, Youth and Family Services told representatives that Pollard often left her children alone on Wednesdays while she worked.

[worldnow id=6043809 width=385 height=255 type=video]

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