Local

Couple buries grandson same day as house catches fire

CONNELLSVILLE, Pa. — A Connellsville couple who safely escaped a house fire Tuesday night did so hours after they buried their grandson.

Firefighters were called to Bill and Kathy Little’s Narrows Road home around 4 p.m. Tuesday.

“It’s so mind-boggling that something like this can happen,” Kathy Little said.

The Littles were 22-year-old William Little IV’s grandparents. Little IV was fatally shot by his friend last week in Dunbar Township and was buried Tuesday.

Andrew Hustosky, who was charged with murder, called the shooting an accident.

“Maybe God sent this as a diversion from our more serious problems that we have, like the loss of our grandson,” Kathy Little said.

The Littles’ daughter, Traci Strauser, said the outside of her parents’ home wasn’t damaged at all, but the inside is a total loss.

“It’s all straight down into the basement. It’s all ice. There are icicles forming,” Strauser said.

Family members talked about the rough stretch the family has endured.

“A week ago it was New Year’s and everything was fine. Then, Thursday we got the news that my cousin died. It’s been hard the last few days,” Petey Strauser said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but family members said they believe it was electrical. They said they plan to rebuild.

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