Grape St. neighbors react to Kugler charges
By: Mark Gruba
Updated: April 13, 2012
Neighbors expressed disbelief Friday afternoon upon hearing that Bobbie Kugler was
charged with manslaughter and arson in the deadly February Grape Street
fire that killed four of her children.
Laurie Ramos, who lives across from 82 Grape Street, where the fire happened, said she suspected Kugler may have had a role in starting the fire because of the way she observed Kugler behave. "Those kids were always, when I saw them, left alone," she said. "When those kids needed to eat, they go on Jay Street to their friends house to eat. Where was she?"
Kugler's four children who died in the fire were Gage Reavey, Greg Kugler, Kandee Kugler and Kaiden Kugler. "It's just sad because four innocent kids just died like that, and their mothers being charged with their murder, everybody's lives getting ruined, it's crazy," said neighbor Tierre Harris.
As a mother and grandmother, Ramos said she can't comprehend what Kugler is accused of doing. "She deserves what her children got and a lot more," she said.
Some are trying to move on. Workers have been rehabbing the burned house for the last three weeks. Covering the scars, however, doesn't erase what happened. "Every night I see those kids up in that window, pounding on the window for help," said Ramos.
Leslie Alligood is another mother who lives in the neighborhood. "A lot of spirits live in that house, so maybe somebody who hasn't heard of it will move in there, but people from around here, they're not going to move into that house," she said.
When the fire debris was cleared away from the yard at 82 Grape Street, Ramos salvaged the cross that was laid out for the victims. It rests in her yard as a reminder of what's been lost. "They're in heaven where they belong," Ramos said of the children. As for Kugler, she said, "Where's she going? Not with them beautiful kids."
Kugler has not been convicted of anything at this point, only charged in connection with the fire.
Laurie Ramos, who lives across from 82 Grape Street, where the fire happened, said she suspected Kugler may have had a role in starting the fire because of the way she observed Kugler behave. "Those kids were always, when I saw them, left alone," she said. "When those kids needed to eat, they go on Jay Street to their friends house to eat. Where was she?"
Kugler's four children who died in the fire were Gage Reavey, Greg Kugler, Kandee Kugler and Kaiden Kugler. "It's just sad because four innocent kids just died like that, and their mothers being charged with their murder, everybody's lives getting ruined, it's crazy," said neighbor Tierre Harris.
As a mother and grandmother, Ramos said she can't comprehend what Kugler is accused of doing. "She deserves what her children got and a lot more," she said.
Some are trying to move on. Workers have been rehabbing the burned house for the last three weeks. Covering the scars, however, doesn't erase what happened. "Every night I see those kids up in that window, pounding on the window for help," said Ramos.
Leslie Alligood is another mother who lives in the neighborhood. "A lot of spirits live in that house, so maybe somebody who hasn't heard of it will move in there, but people from around here, they're not going to move into that house," she said.
When the fire debris was cleared away from the yard at 82 Grape Street, Ramos salvaged the cross that was laid out for the victims. It rests in her yard as a reminder of what's been lost. "They're in heaven where they belong," Ramos said of the children. As for Kugler, she said, "Where's she going? Not with them beautiful kids."
Kugler has not been convicted of anything at this point, only charged in connection with the fire.
