-

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Family pleads for clues in fatal apartment fire

The mother of one of the victims in a La Ronge, Sask., apartment fire that claimed three lives made a public plea for answers Friday.

On May 26, Justin Charles, 20, Marsha McKenzie, 19, and their four-month-old child, Jeremy, perished in a fire that police are calling suspicious.

No arrests have been made and police said Friday they were still seeking information from anyone who may know something about the fire.

Family members and police officers spoke at a school assembly Friday, according to a news release from the RCMP.

Later, Alice Charles told CBC News the deaths have been especially hard to accept because they have unanswered questions about what happened and who may be responsible.

"My message, I guess, is just asking the people to come forward with any information, whether it be rumours or anything at all," Charles said in a phone interview with CBC News. She suggested people could use the Crimestoppers line, as well.

"Give them any information and it's all anonymous, all confidential," Charles said.

The toll-free number for Saskatchewan Crimestoppers is 1-800-222-8477. The number for the RCMP detachment in La Ronge is 306-425-6730.

Police have not released any additional information about the fire, other than to say their investigation is continuing.

Shortly after the fire, eyewitnesses told reporters that a mattress lying in a hallway was set on fire.