Case Report: The Walkers Place Of Safety

Ms Grace Allen (manager) Report: In a report dated October 6, 2016, Ms Grace Allen, manager at the Walkers’ Place of Safety noted that at about 2 am on October 4, 2016 while conducting her regular nightly checks, she observed Marie Swaby returning to her room from the bathroom. According to Ms Allen at about 2:15 am she smelt smoke and heard the smoke detector going off. Upon investigating she observed that the chest of drawers located in the girls’ dorm was on fire. She reported that she called out for assistance from Ms Paddyfoot, (caregiver) who assisted her in escorting the wards out of the room. Ms Allen used a fire extinguisher to extinguish the flames and with the assistance of Ms Edwards, (caregiver) cleaned up the area before
Paddyfoot (caregiver) Report: In a reported dated October 6, 2016 , Ms Janet Paddyfoot, caregiver at the Walkers Place of Safety noted that she was in the television room at the time of the incident when she heard Ms Allen calling out for assistance. Upon responding Ms Paddyfoot noted that she observed fire in the small girls’ dorm. The chest of drawers in the room was set ablaze. She noted that the girls were escorted out of the dorm while Ms Allen extinguished the fire. The area was cleaned before the girls were allowed to return to their beds. Ms Paddyfoot further disclosed that she was advised by a ward; Shenell Thorpe that Marie was responsible for the fire. Ms Paddyfoot noted that when confronted about her actions, Marie confessed that she lit the drawers because she “needed her brother and
Marie noted that her foster mother had promised to visit her at the facility on Saturday October 1, 2016 but had not shown up. She thought that if she lit the fire she would be able to see her foster family again. She confessed that she took the matches from the cook’s apron that was left in her room earlier that evening and hid it. She waited until everyone was asleep then on her fourth attempt was able to light the clothes in the chest of drawers. She then went back to her bed and pretended to be asleep while the chest of drawers was ablaze. She further reported hearing Ms Allen coming into the room and calling for help. She along with her fellow wards were escorted out of the room before the fire was extinguished. Marie noted that it his desire to be returned to live with foster