NEW CASTLE, Pa. — A terrible tragedy has shaken up the New Castle community. A mother and her teenage daughter died Wednesday morning after a fire broke out inside their home along West Clayton Street.
The family is shocked, devastated and heartbroken.
It’s been a very emotional day for the family after 41-year-old Courtney Payne and her 17-year-old daughter Terrianna Payne died in a house fire just days after celebrating Christmas.
Courtney Payne’s sisters said Courtney called 911 but wasn’t able to make it out of her room upstairs.
PREVIOUS STORY: 3 people killed in fire at New Castle home
They said she was an incredible single mother with a big heart.
“I want people to know she was a good person, wonderful mother, just overall good person,” said sister Kia Waller.
Waller said Terrianna was a varsity cheerleader at New Castle and cheered for Natalie’s Cheer & Tumble.
Her team shared these photos and said she was very talented, funny and full of life.
“She’s been a cheerleader since she was a little girl. She went from cheering for the high school to NCT, which is popular,” said Waller. “They went to so many nationals in Florida for years.”
We learned the daughter’s 18-year-old friend, Xzavia Booker, also died in the fire. The sisters said she just got her high school diploma last week.
The New Castle fire chief believes the smoke got to them and said the fire may have started in the kitchen.
What makes this even more tragic, the sisters said Courtney Payne’s son, Maurice, was at a friend’s house Tuesday night. It’s his 12th birthday Wednesday and both his mom and sister are gone. He’s now staying at his grandma’s house.
The family said they had plans to hold a big New Year’s Eve party here.
We also found out two dogs also died in this fire. Right now, the state fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.
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