Tributes to girl and babysitter killed in horror Thornside townhouse fire
Heartfelt tributes continue to flow for a young girl and her babysitter who died in a horror house fire, while authorities have yet to label the case as suspicious.
Eight-year-old Raven Contini was found early on Sunday morning in the still-smoldering mansion in the Brisbane suburb of Thornside, while Stephanie Ryan, 31, was reported missing.
Ms Ryan’s body was later found at the Bayside Court home where she had been babysitting Raven while her parents were away.
Raven is remembered for her big smile, while her babysitter is described as sweet.
Ms Ryan had only arrived in Brisbane last week on holiday from Alice Springs, five days before the horrific fire.
The police and child protection are investigating the cause of the fire, but suspicious circumstances have yet to be ruled out.
Among the flowers, cards and toys left outside the house was a message to Raven that read: “Fly high, beautiful girl.”
Birkdale South State School also paid tribute on Tuesday, describing the student as a precious gift to the community.
Eight-year-old Raven Contini (pictured) was found early Sunday morning in the still-smoldering mansion in the Brisbane suburb of Thornside
Babysitter Stephanie Ryan (pictured) was initially reported missing, but her body was later found
“Staff and students loved her cheerfulness, friendly smiling face and imagination,” principal Amanda Turnbull said in a statement.
“Raven’s love of colorful ribbons will forever distinguish her and remind us every day of the precious gift she was to our school community.
‘Our team of Guidance Officers and Student Care team will be available this week to support our community as they cope with this news.’
Raven’s mother Chloe Rodgers-Falk and stepfather Matthew were on holiday in Ballina, NSW at the time of the tragedy.
“They’re obviously devastated,” Detective Paul Dalton said.
Ms Ryan’s relatives also laid flowers at the memorial outside the burnt-out mansion.
Her grandmother Thelma Cowell told reporters Ms Ryan was from the Northern Territory and had been on holiday alone in Queensland.
“I didn’t know them (Raven’s family) very well, all I know was that my granddaughter was babysitting,” she said.
“She was a sweet kid, annoying, but she was a sweet kid.”
Ms Ryan’s aunt, Karen Linsley, told the Courier Mail: ‘She was, in a word, wonderful, always smiling, always happy, well, most of the time.
“She would do anything for anyone, no matter what.”
“She was great with kids, she was always there for all of me, for all her nieces and nephews.
Ms Ryan was initially declared missing after authorities were unable to gain full access to the building.
About thirty firefighters tried to extinguish the fire, which caused part of the roof to collapse. Her body was later found in the gutted house on Monday.
Neighbor Xia Iheng told the ABC she desperately tried to help after witnessing the fire raging through the house.
“I said, ‘I don’t have a hose, I just have buckets,’ and a young lady helped me water the fire, but it was so strong,” she said.
“I feel overwhelmed, a lot of emotions, just shocked and exhausted.”
Photos from the scene show that one side of the roof collapsed during the fire.
A family friend was living in the garage at the time of the fire, but had left briefly to go to the shops. When he got home, he saw that the mansion (photo) was on fire.
Raven’s heartbroken family paid tribute to the little girl on Sunday evening.
“I loved to cook, loved to shop, loved to socialize, a very special, much loved eight-year-old girl,” Christine Mary and Robert Arthur Rodgers-Falk said in a statement.
‘Nickname her Turtle. She was very beautiful. Lifted us up when we saw her.”
Family members of both victims have organized online fundraisers.
“Stephy will always be remembered as a smiling, cheerful young woman who was always there for anyone who needed her, without doubt, with great love for her family and friends,” Ms Linsley wrote GoFundMe.
‘We are all devastated by the news of what happened yesterday.
‘We would like to give Steph the farewell she deserves. Any help would be greatly appreciated by our entire family.”
A family friend was living in the garage at the time of the fire, but had left briefly to go to the shops. When he got home, he saw that the mansion was on fire.
Letters and flowers in tribute to eight-year-old Raven have been left at the scene (pictured)
A letter saying ‘fly high beautiful girl’ was accompanied by a hand-drawn dove (photo)
The man had been “very co-operative” with police, Inspector Dalton said.
“We have no suspects,” he said.
“There’s nothing to indicate this fire is suspicious in any way, but we’ll treat it as if it is until we find it, make a decision one way or another.”
The police are calling on anyone who has information or camera images to come forward.