It took a California man about a week to propose to his girlfriend. When a fire broke out in her house on Christmas Day, Steven Weatherford Jr. tried his best to retrieve the engagement ring he had hidden from his girlfriend. Unfortunately, the 37-year-old died during the search of the house.
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What happened in the California Christmas Day fire?
Accordingly KTVUSteven saved his family from the flames but stayed behind for the ring. His parents told the outlet that he actually wanted to ask LaShante Mayo to be his fiancée on New Year’s Eve. Steven was at his father, Weatherford Sr.’s home in Oakland when the fire broke out. Authorities received the call around 6:15 a.m. on Christmas Day.
His aunt, Eunice Smith, reportedly told KGO that Steven Weatherford Jr. was also “trying to save everyone” by making sure the house was clear. However, she added that he may not have known that they all went out the back. Smith said her other nephew shouted at Steven to get out of the house and that family members heard the 37-year-old screaming. “…He never made it,” Smith said.
Firefighters eventually found Steven’s unconscious body inside the home. At this point, the Oakland Fire Department has determined the house fire was an accident.
Relatives and neighbors describe Steven Weatherford Jr.
Neighbors of the affected family started a GoFundMe campaign to provide some financial relief to the family. The campaign says the Weatherfords have lived in the neighborhood for over 40 years and that Steven Jr.’s mother passed away just a few years ago.
“In this time of unimaginable grief, we as neighbors and along with many others in our neighborhood who wanted to do something, created this GoFundMe in the name of Steve and his family. This was established to cover the cost of immediate financial needs and the memorial service for Steve Jr. The family receives 100% of your donations. No one should have to bear the burden of such heartache alone, especially during the holidays. Any donation, no matter how small, will go a long way toward easing their burden and helping them honor Steve Jr.’s memory.”
Steven Weatherford Jr.’s girlfriend, LaShante, called him the “best person” you could ever meet. “He loved his family, his friends, everyone so much,” Mayo said. She didn’t know he had planned to propose. It is unclear whether firefighters were able to recover the engagement ring.
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What do you think, roommates?
