Father Grieves For Children Killed In Ohio Fire
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Right before Father's Day, a Minnesota dad is opening up about the loss of his two children after they were killed in a house fire hundreds of miles from home.
Kathryn, 9, and Aaron, 12, were on their first summer vacation away from their parents. The brother and sister were visiting their aunt in Ohio when tragedy struck.
"[They said] 'We're having a great time, Dad.' And I said, 'I love you my little ducklings. We'll see you soon,'" Bryan Foster said.
Foster recounts their last conversation -- now his beloved children are gone. They were at an amusement park in Ohio Monday. Hours later, the smiling faces would be the source of many tears.
It was around 6 a.m. Tuesday that a fire broke out in the basement. The kids' aunt made it out, through the back door, along with her son. The children who were in the front of the house and couldn't get out.
Their dad remembers a knock on his door back in Minnesota.
"It was an officer and a priest. They told me to sit down," he said.
Bryan Foster and his ex-wife Laura traveled to Ohio. There, they found a memorial, built in their babies' names.
"Aaron and Kathryn were so very very close. I have never in my life seen two siblings closer," he said. "I will not let my children's memory ever die and will bring lessons they taught me to anyone that they can touch and I will share their stories. They will never be forgotten, ever. They will always be right here with me."
A private memorial for the children will be held in Ohio this weekend. Then, the parents will bring the children's remains home to Minnesota for a memorial at their favorite park on July 2.
If you want help the family pay for funeral expenses, two GoFundMe pages have been set up here and here.