Reward sought in house fire

Published 7:42 pm Friday, December 16, 2016

The funeral for Katrina Moore and her 20-year-old daughter Coleman Moore will be held Saturday at Christian Grace Apostolic Church. Meanwhile, authorities continue to search for the person who intentionally set the house fire that cost them their lives.

District attorney Michael Jackson requested Friday that Gov. Robert Bentley’s office offer a $5,000 reward in the case.

“We need community input on giving information on what happened. That will help bring this case to a resolution,” Jackson said. “People talk. Some folks might’ve seen something. That will help the people that are reluctant to come forward, they might come forward with a reward.”

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The fire took place Dec. 8 around 4 a.m. on the corner of Pettus Street and Gary Avenue. Five people were inside the house and three of them were able to make it out. Katrina, 44, and Coleman, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, died at the scene.

The state fire marshal said last Friday that the fire was intentionally set.

Robert Moore, Katrina’s brother, said the family is trying to pay for the funeral and that anyone that would like to help out can write a check to Lewis Brothers Funeral Home.

Robert’s other sisters and brothers that were living in the house are also still looking for a place to live.

“We are calling around now trying to find somewhere to live,” Robert said.

The Selma High School class of 1992 has started a GoFundMe page for the Moore family and had raised $2,060 at 4 p.m. Friday afternoon.

The class started with a goal of $1,000, but 36 people have already donated.

“To me it was such a tragedy and for most of us, it was just so shocking to have it occur to have like it did and involving her daughter,” said Rhonda Peoples-Waters, who graduated with Katrina in 1992. “We wanted to do whatever we could to help the family.”

Through the years, many in the class of 1992 have moved away to other parts of the country, including Peoples-Waters, who lives in Jacksonville, Florida, but many of the classmates have reconnected in an effort to raise funds for the family.

“They have two funerals to plan for and not only that but the rest of the family has to rebuild everything they lost in the house,” Peoples-Waters said.

The funerals will start at noon with Bishop James Marshall officiating. Interment will be held at Lorenzo Harrison cemetery with Lewis Brothers Funeral Home directing.