Image source, HandoutByFederica BedendoNorth East and Cumbria
- Published17 minutes ago
The family of a seven-year-old girl killed in a house fire said their lives had been changed forever by her “devastating loss”.
Valentina Foster died alongside her aunt Natalie McDonald, 34, in the blaze at Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, in the early hours of 26 August. A man has been charged with their murders.
In a tribute, the youngster’s parents said their daughter would “always be in our hearts, and her memory will live with us forever”.
“She was deeply loved and will be missed beyond words by her family, friends, and everyone whose life she touched,” they said.
“Our lives have changed forever, and we are struggling to come to terms with this devastating loss.”
They added she would be “forever missed” by her brothers and sisters.
Image source, Supplied
On Tuesday, Jaden Wright, 23, appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court charged with two counts of murder as well as multiple grievous bodily harm offences in connection with the blaze.
A 31-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder was released with no further action.
Cleveland Police said a man and a woman remained in hospital while two teenage girls were discharged following treatment.
Lisa Kirton, Natalie’s mother, previously told the BBC her daughter was “lovely, bright and bubbly” and “everybody loved her”.
Initially police said they could not exclude a connection between the fire and organised crime linked to seven deaths, including two police officers, in a crash on the A66.
It since said the cases were not linked.
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