RALEIGH, N.C. — A North Carolina mother has been arrested in connection with a deadly grease fire that claimed the lives of her two young children last fall. Authorities allege her negligence played a key role in the tragic incident.
Rodreika Porter, 34, was taken into custody Thursday by the Ahoskie Police Department and charged with two counts of felony child neglect inflicting serious bodily injury, according to the Raleigh Police Department.
Porter had reportedly relocated to Ahoskie — roughly two hours east of Raleigh — since the fire occurred.
Deadly Fire Broke Out Last September
The fatal blaze erupted around 6 a.m. on September 29, 2024, at a home in the 1800 block of Cantwell Court in Raleigh. Emergency crews responded to the scene and found two children inside the burning residence.
Despite efforts to save them, a 1-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy were later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Negligence and Drug Use Alleged
In the months that followed, authorities pieced together the events leading to the fire. According to court documents, Porter was not home at the time of the blaze.
A witness told police that Porter was “up the block getting high during the fire.” Despite initially denying drug use, a social worker later reported that Porter tested positive for fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana, and may have consumed alcohol as well.
Further investigation suggests that Porter had left a pan of oil heating on the stove to cook pork chops and allegedly fell asleep, leaving the burner on — ultimately sparking the fatal grease fire.
However, the exact timeline remains murky. While some records state Porter was awakened by smoke, others indicate she was away from the home altogether, raising questions about her whereabouts when the fire began.
Desperate Attempt to Save Her Children
What is clear is that Porter noticed the fire, removed her children from the home, and began frantically seeking help from neighbors.
“The dead of night — we just hear banging and screaming,” one neighbor recalled. “We wake up, come outside, and the woman is just holding her children. They’re lifeless.”
Read Also: Man Charged in Girlfriend’s Murder 42 Years After She Went Missing in Oregon
Porter herself did not require medical attention, police said.
Legal Proceedings Underway
Porter is currently being held and will face charges in Wake County, where the fire took place. Her arrest has drawn attention to the devastating consequences of drug use, poor judgment, and lack of child supervision.
Join the Conversation
What are your thoughts on this tragedy? Should laws around child neglect be stricter in cases involving substance abuse? Share your views in the comments at Ridgecrestpact.org.
