The heartbroken family of five children and father killed in a horrifying house fire have broken their silence as police reveal their key questions about the fire.
Wayne Godinet, 34, died along with his biological twins, aged four, and son, three, and stepsons Zack, 11, and Harry, 10, when their Todman Street home on Russell Island in Queensland caught fire early Sunday morning. tomorrow.
The boys’ mother, Samantha Stephenson, 28, and a female relative, 21, were released from hospital Monday after miraculously escaping the fire.
Relative Emma-Lee Headrick said Monday she had been up all night mourning the loss of the ‘Waynie boy’ and her ‘beautiful’ nephews.
“I stayed up mourning the loss of 6 beautiful souls,” she wrote on Facebook alongside a photo of Godinet and her children floating on pink clouds.
‘We have suffered a great loss. I find comfort knowing that you rest in peace in the arms of the Lord. With Grumpy and Nicky.
‘To my whanau in Queensland, I feel your pain and aroha. I’ll be there soon.’
It comes as Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham revealed that there were several elements of the house fire that required “additional scrutiny” by police.
Relative Emma-Lee Headrick said she had been up all night mourning the loss of ‘Waynie boy’ and his six ‘beautiful’ nephews in a Facebook post on Monday (pictured)
Father Wayne Godinet, 34, and his five children (pictured) perished after being trapped in a deadly fire on Queensland’s Russell Island.
He said police have not determined whether or not the fire was suspicious and investigators are keeping an open mind about its cause.
“In terms of best investigative processes, items that need further investigation or clarification should remain confidential at this stage,” he said.
Mr Godinet and Mrs Stephenson were sleeping downstairs while the children and the female relative, aged 21, were upstairs when the fire broke out.
The woman was forced to jump from a second-story window to escape the flames.
Officers will recover the bodies from the charred remains of the two-story home on Monday to allow formal identification processes to begin.
Superintendent Massingham said police knew the “male victim” and officers had been called to the residence on several occasions prior to the fire.
The superintendent was asked if the male victim could be in the house.
“In terms of that aspect, we’re still looking into that, but I can confirm that the police have happened to residents in the past, but the nature and frequency of our assistance is subject to internal review,” he said.
Meanwhile, a letter from Russell Island State School Acting Principal Leanne McMahon was sent to parents and carers on Sunday.
The two eldest sons, Zack and Harry, were students at the local school.
‘Many of you will be aware of a tragic house fire this morning in our community. It has been reported that some residents, including youth, remain unidentified. We extend our deepest condolences to the affected families and their loved ones at this difficult time,” the letter said.
Ms McMahon said she understood the children would be distraught by the news and the school would provide support and advice.
“As a community, we will come together and support each other during this challenging period,” he wrote.
Officers were stationed outside the house overnight Sunday to protect the six bodies that police believe remain within the charred remains.
“Today we are hopeful of removing the bodies of the six people who tragically perished in this fire yesterday,” Superintendent Massingham said.
‘A crime scene has been declared on Todman Street and arson investigators and crime scene personnel are there. Our Disaster Victim Identification Squad has been called in to assist in that process.’
In total, nine people were treated at the scene after the fire spread to two other properties on Todman Street, about 60 kilometers southeast of Brisbane.
Police confirmed on Sunday afternoon that six bodies had been found in the smoldering wreckage.
The children’s mother, Samantha Stephenson, 28 (right with Mr. Godinet), and a female relative, 21, have been released from hospital after the couple miraculously escaped the fire.
The fire was so intense that firefighters were only able to collect the remains of the house in the late afternoon after fighting it since 6:18 a.m.
Family friend Peter Macloughlin visited the remains of the family home on Sunday.
“The mother came out very distraught and said the children were inside and there was nothing her partner could do,” she told Nine News.
Macloughlin said he was “devastated” for the family.
“(They were) great kids, I gave the oldest a bicycle yesterday,” he said.
The fire was so intense that firefighters were only able to collect the remains of the house in the late afternoon after fighting it since 6:18 a.m.
Police were only able to remove the rubble and find the charred remains overnight.
“After the fire was extinguished this afternoon by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, an initial examination of the scene located the bodies of six people, believed to be a man and five children,” police said.
An autopsy and scientific examination will be carried out to confirm the identity of the deceased.
Mr. Godinet (pictured with his two children) ran into the house to try to save the five children.
Mr. Godinet (pictured with his son) was trapped upstairs with the children moments before the second story of the Russell Island home collapsed.
On Sunday, Superintendent Matthew Kelly said Ms Stephenson was “very distraught” but in stable condition while recovering in hospital.
“These are little boys who could have become men in the future and a man also lost his life,” the superintendent said.
‘We are still talking to this lady, who has lost her entire family. It’s really tragic.
A family friend, Lily Salter, created a GoFundMe page.
“On this tragic morning, Samantha lost her 5 beautiful children and her father in a house fire,” the post read.
‘We have started this go to fund myself to help Samantha in the cost of putting her beautiful family to rest. Anything you can donate will be appreciated.
Mrs Stephenson (pictured) was found outside the house in a state of distress
The fire completely destroyed the property on which it originated and spread to two other houses.
This is a horrible circumstance and we appreciate any help you can provide.
‘Samantha will also need essentials such as clothing, personal hygiene products, etc.
‘She had lost everything. We also appreciate that she has given Samantha some time and space to grieve at this time, as you can imagine.
Superintendent Kelly said the cause of the fire was still under investigation.
“We are not treating him as a suspect at this stage, preliminary investigations do not suggest that,” he said.
Emergency services described the scene as a ‘confrontation’.
A local said he heard an “explosion” before seeing black smoke billowing into the sky.
“I heard explosions this morning and then I saw the black smoke,” they wrote in a local Facebook group.
I am saddened by the whole thing.
Mrs. Godinet died after he re-entered the house to retrieve his children from the
The fire then spread to two other houses, sending plumes of thick smoke billowing into the sky.
One house collapsed while firefighters worked to put out flames in another.
About 20 firefighters managed to extinguish the flames in a third home.
Anyone with information or images relevant to the incident is urged to come forward while an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.
“Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire,” police said.
The Russell Island Rural Fire Brigade was the first to respond to the blaze, and witnesses saw an ambulance and fire trucks board a barge to the island to help.
Nine people, including neighbors, were treated at the scene by paramedics.
