Columbus County, NC – A community is in mourning after a devastating house fire claimed the lives of four young sisters, leading to criminal charges against their mother, Reagan Powers, 28. The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Saturday, August 30, and has since drawn widespread attention across the state.
Early Morning Emergency Call Ends in Tragedy
Around 2:30 a.m., Powers called 911 to report that her home was on fire, and that her four daughters—ages 2, 4, 6, and 7—were still inside. According to a press release from the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), deputies arrived within nine minutes, but the home was already fully engulfed in flames.
“Due to the severity of the fire, it was not possible to make a safe entry into the home,” officials said. Sadly, all four children died at the scene.
Mother Accused of Leaving Children Home Alone
According to multiple reports from WECT 6, WWAY 3, and Columbus County News (CCN), Powers had allegedly left the children at home, placing them under the supervision of an 11-year-old, who was also not equipped to respond to a crisis of this magnitude. Authorities believe Powers was not present at the time the fire broke out.
This led to Powers being arrested on Wednesday, Sept. 10, and charged with:
4 counts of involuntary manslaughter
Negligent child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury
Court Appearance and Possible Sentence
Powers made her first court appearance on Thursday, Sept. 11. During the hearing, the judge stated that she faces:
Up to 59 months (nearly 5 years) in prison for each count of involuntary manslaughter
Up to 88 months (over 7 years) for each count of negligent child abuse
Her bond was initially set at $400,000, but she has since bonded out, according to WECT and CCN.
Family and Community React
The children’s father, Patrick Ellis, shared a heartbreaking statement through WWAY 3, saying:
“My heart is shattered beyond words at the loss of my daughters.”
On Tuesday, Sept. 9, over 100 people attended a memorial service for the four children at a funeral home in Chadbourn, a show of support from a grieving community trying to make sense of the unimaginable.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Aug. 30, 2024 | Fire reported at 2:30 a.m.; children found dead |
| Sept. 9, 2024 | Memorial service held in Chadbourn |
| Sept. 10, 2024 | Reagan Powers arrested and charged |
| Sept. 11, 2024 | First court appearance; bond set, later posted |
| Sept. 13, 2024 | CCSO and Fire Marshal contacted; no comment yet |
Community and Legal Response
While the case is still under investigation, officials have made it clear that leaving young children unattended, especially without proper adult supervision, violated North Carolina’s child safety laws and contributed directly to the tragic outcome.
Authorities are also reviewing fire safety conditions and the exact cause of the blaze, though foul play has not been indicated regarding how the fire started.
