Fire on Mayflower Street Blamed on Schizophrenic Relative

A fire broke out earlier today on Mayflower Street in Belize City. While details remain limited, our newsroom has learned that the blaze was started by a schizophrenic family member who set fire to a mattress in an upstairs room.  Love News spoke with Shana Tillett, the victim’s mother, who shared her understanding of the incident.

Shana Tillet, Fire Victim: “My son said that it’s the mattress upstairs that my nephew that isn’t took correct. He must have smoked his cigarette and left it on the mattress and burned it.”

Reporter: Okay so was he here on his own or was here with your son ? 

Shana Tillet, Fire Victim: “No, he and my son stay upstairs here but I don’t know what is the reason he wants to be over there because over there is for my niece and nobody lives up there. So it’s over there he went and she just fixed , this man was just finishing up fixing her house.” 

Reporter: And she wasn’t at home when it happened ? 

Shana Tillet, Fire Victim: “She was sleeping.”

Reporter: He went in there while she was sleeping and lit the fire ? 

Shana Tillet, Fire Victim: “He was upstairs, she lived downstairs and she didn’t know the fire until everything burned up, almost her too. She was asleep and didn’t smell the fire.”

Reporter: And has this individual ever been a threat to your family or recently have you seen a change in his behavior ? 

Shana Tillet, Fire Victim: “Not really it’s just the same how he stands sometimes he gets aggressive with you and he talks crazy to you and tell you he will do you this or so but me as the aunty I’m already used to him like that but people out there would want to hit him, hurt him and then the way how he talks to them like he wants to do something to them but he just talks out of his head, he wouldn’t do that unless they fool with him.”

Reporter: So your daughter, what kind of assistance would you be asking for ? 

Shana Tillet, Fire Victim: “To help fix the house back for her. She just bought her refrigerator, I don’t know how somebody couldn’t help her take out that refrigerator, $900.”

Reporter: And she lost all her clothes ? 
Shana Tillet, Fire Victim:“Everything. You see I just gave her a pants there ? Everything.”

Anyone wanting to assist in the rebuilding can contact Shana Tillett at 602-4520