Memorial observance honors 5 victims of Jeannette house fire 1 year ago

Miranda John has found ways to honor the memories of her four children and fiancee over the past year.

There have been balloon releases on each of their birthdays. She has donated baskets of items to Westmoreland Hospital for newborns who share the birthdays of Kyson, 7; Kinzleigh, 6; Keagan, 3; and Korbyn, 1 month.

“These small but meaningful gestures are a way to celebrate their lives and ensure their memories live on,” John said.

About 50 people braced against a chilly wind Thursday evening during a vigil at the West Jeannette ball field to help her continue to remember the four children, along with their father, Tyler J. King, 27.

All five were killed in a house fire in Jeannette on March 20, 2024. John and two other children escaped the blaze on Guy Street with the help of police and a neighbor.

It was meant to be a candlelight vigil, but family, friends and other supporters used cellphone flashlights instead because of the weather.

“It’s been one year, yet today we stand in remembrance,” Pastor Nate Keisel said to the crowd.

Richard John has relived that day over and over during the past year. He said he’s been overwhelmed by the community support his daughter and family continue to receive, even from strangers.

“I’m thankful we’re all still here for her,” he said. “We do the best … what can you do? You can’t bring her babies back.”

The charred remnants of the home still stand with a memorial of stuffed animals sitting nearby. Police have not released a cause of the fire.

Miranda John told the Trib she has relied on her family and friends through the highs and lows of the past year. In the immediate aftermath, thousands of dollars in donations poured in from the community, which John called beautiful and overwhelming.

“The love and support we received meant the world to us and helped us cope during such a challenging time,” she said. “Over time, however, life moved forward, and while everything and everyone naturally faded from the spotlight, it wasn’t a bad thing.

“It just reminded me of the importance of bringing people together when it matters most.”

John said she and her two sons have settled into a new home and are enjoying the comfort of having their own place.

The love and support the family has gotten from the community is a constant reminder that King, Kyson, Kinzleigh, Keagan, and Korbyn won’t be forgotten.

“The friendships they formed and the lives they touched will always be part of their legacy,” John said, “and we are incredibly grateful for that.”