Autistic Boy, 11, Left Alone, Dies in Coney Island Fire

February 17, 2010

Boy, 11, Left Alone, Dies in Coney Island Fire

By MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT

Published: February 16, 2010

An autistic 11-year-old boy died on Tuesday from a fire that investigators

believe he set himself after his grandmother left him home alone in Coney

Island, Brooklyn, according to the authorities.

His grandmother, Melinda McLain, 59, has been charged in the case with reckless

endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child, the police said.

Firefighters found the boy, Tavon Turpin, 11, shortly after noon unconscious and

unresponsive inside their 15th-floor apartment at Ocean Towers, a large

residential high-rise at 2970 West 24th Street, the authorities said. Tavon was

pronounced dead at Coney Island Hospital, the authorities said.

Fire investigators believe that the fire started in the hallway closet of the

apartment, according to the law enforcement officials. The fire took nearly an

hour to bring under control. The investigators believe the boy was playing with

matches or a lighter, the officials said.

The investigators found no evidence that someone else had started the fire after

Ms. McLain left the apartment. It was not known how long she had been gone

before the fire began.

Tavon and his grandmother were well known around the building. Neighbors said

they would often see her walking him to the bus stop each morning before school.

" They weren't very wealthy, " said Pou, who lived on the same floor,

adding that Ms. McLain had difficulty breathing and sometimes had to carry an

oxygen tank. " He was always happy. He would smile at you, or his grandma would

tell him to smile at you. "

Donna e, 44, a local cook, said she would often see Tavon when she stopped

by the building to visit relatives. Ms. e said that he was always in good

spirits and appeared well taken care of, but that she could not imagine

someone's leaving him alone.

" You never leave your child alone at 11 years old, especially if he's autistic, "

she said. " He can't help himself. "

and Anahad O'Connor contributed reporting.

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