Fire that killed three boys claims another victim

Tuesday, April 1, 2008  

A fire that killed three Native boys on the Pukatawagan Reserve in Manitoba claimed the life of their 57-year-old uncle.

Simon Nicholas died of smoke inhalation. He had been taking care of Troi Castel-Lapansee, 3, and Robert Castel-Lapansee Jr., 4, and their cousin, Letrel Bighetty-Castel, 5, when their house caught on fire on March 10.

Nicholas likely was most significant witness to the incident, which is still being investigated. Officials said they will have a harder time figuring out what happened.

The boys were the grandchildren of Mathias Colomb Chief Shirley Castelm

Get the Story:
Fatal Pukatawagan fire claims 4th victim (CBC 3/31)

Related Stories:
Three Native boys killed in house fire laid to rest (03/18)
First Nation devastated by loss of three boys in fire (3/13)
Three children dead in fire on Manitoba reserve (3/12)