By The Guardian (World News) | Created at 2024-10-08 03:00:14 | Updated at 2024-10-08 05:37:10
2 hours ago
Floral tributes and messages of condolence are gathering outside a home east of Brisbane after a blaze killed an eight-year-old girl and her babysitter.
Raven Contini and 31-year-old Stephanie Ryan, were found dead in the Thorneside home after a fire ripped through the townhouse on Sunday morning.
Child protection officers and the homicide squad are investigating what caused the fire, with suspicious circumstances not yet ruled out.
Raven has been remembered for her cheerful smile and Ryan as a lovable person.
Tributes of flowers, cards and toys have been left outside the property, with one message dedicated to Raven saying: “Fly high beautiful girl”.
The principal of Birkdale South school, Amanda Turnbull, paid tribute to Raven saying: “Staff and students adored her cheerfulness, friendly smiling face and imagination”.
“Raven’s love for bright ribbons will forever set her apart and remind us each day of the precious gift she was to our school community.”
The girl’s parents were interstate at the time of the blaze.
“They are obviously devastated,” Det Insp Paul Dalton said.
Members of Ryan’s family have also laid flowers at the makeshift memorial outside the residence.
Ryan’s grandmother, Thelma Cowell, told reporters the 31-year-old was from the Northern Territory and had only been in Queensland on holiday for three days.
“I didn’t know them (Raven’s family) real well, I just know my granddaughter was babysitting,” she said.
Asked to describe Ryan, she said: “A lovable child”.
Raven was found dead after emergency services rushed to the small coastal town on Sunday morning to find the townhouse ablaze.
Ryan was initially declared unaccounted for after police could not get full access to the building, as about 30 firefighters worked to extinguish the fire which caused part of the roof to collapse. Her body was later found inside.
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Relatives of both victims are organising fundraisers.
“Stephy will always be remembered as a smiley happy young woman always there for anyone that needed her without question with great love for her family and friends,” Karen Linsley, Ryan’s aunt posted on GoFundMe.
“We are all devastated with the news of what happened yesterday.
“We would like to give Steph the send off she deserves any help is much appreciated by all our family.”
A family friend was living in the garage at the time of the fire but had left briefly to go to the shops, coming home to find the townhouse alight.
The man had been “very co-operative” with police, Dalton said.
“We have no suspects,” he said.
“There’s nothing to say that this fire is suspicious in any way, but we will treat it as though it is, until we find it, make a determination one way or another.”
Police are urging anyone with information, mobile or CCTV footage to contact them.
