Relatives Mourn Young Family Lost In RI Blaze

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – A mother is grieving after a house fire in Warwick, R.I., claimed the lives of five people, including her daughter, granddaughter and future son-in-law.

Lynn Gaulin said Sunday that her daughter, 21-year-old Amanda Villeneuve, was a devoted mother to her 7-month-old granddaughter, Anabelle Janik.

They were among five people killed Saturday when a fire burned through a Warwick home. The other victims were Villeneuve’s fiance, Dan Janik, 24-year-old Nicholas Jillson and 20-year-old Tayla Lackey.

Gaulin says Villeneueve’s step-grandfather owned the house that caught fire. She says her daughter went there so she could have company while Gaulin and her boyfriend were in Miami for the Super Bowl.

Firefighters say the blaze appears accidental but have not released the cause.