ST. LOUIS — Dozens of people gathered with balloons Wednesday outside the burned apartment where a fire killed three children.
Many at the vigil also defended their mom, who, police say, left them home alone Sunday before the fire broke out.
"She was going to the store to get them something to eat,” Pastor Doug Hollis said.
Firefighters ruled the fire accidental, but police took the mother into custody at the scene. They later released her.
Prosecutors told 5 On Your Side they asked officers for more witness interviews and more evidence.
"It's nothing that can be done to her that she's not already going through herself,” Rhelda Allen, the mom’s cousin, said.
"Nobody can say they know how she feels right now. Me, I'm a pastor, and I don't know how she feels. I'm hurting myself because these are three babies. These are her babies,” Hollis said.
Allen said 6-month-old Damarion was handsome. He had a dimple.
She said 4-year-old Heaven was quiet and timid.
And 5-year-old Dream was their protector.
"She's extremely sorry about this. She never meant for any of this to happen, she loves her children,” Allen said.
