Ghost Ship Trial: heartbreaking last texts from fire victims
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- They were the last words of her partner Nick Walrath and recalling them brought Alexis Abrams-Bourke to tears as she testified in the Ghost Ship trial.
RELATED: Video shows firefighters responding to deadly Ghost Ship fire
On December 2, 2016, Walrath attended a music event at the Fruitvale warehouse. At 11:04, he texted her that he would head home soon. At 11:25, there were two more texts:
"I love you."
"Fire."
Walrath was among 36 people who died that night.
RELATED: Witness describes what it was like inside Ghost Ship warehouse
Alexa Burrell also testified about a text she received from her friend Nicole Siegrist -- at 11:23, it said simply "There's a fire here."
Burrell arrived at the Ghost Ship five minutes later to find it engulfed in flames.
Siegrist -- who went by Denalda -- also died that night.
RELATED: Ghost Ship trial witness: Warehouse was like a 'psychedelic pirate ship'
Then, Ghost Ship survivor and former resident Adam Kennon told the jury that various officials had been inside the warehouse in the months before the fire - -including Child Protective Services and Oakland Police officers. Kennon also said at least two off-duty firefighters attended a party there.
"For us, that means if those people wouldn't have known," said defense attorney Curtis Briggs, "then 28-year-old Max Harris, an art student, nearly homeless, working on his art, wouldn't have known there was any danger."
"It was nice to be there a little bit and give Max some support," said Ward Bein, an uncle of Harris' who flew out from Boston to attend the trial for the first time after visiting with his nephew in jail over the weekend.
RELATED: First Ghost Ship trial witness lost daughter in fire
"He's an inspiring young man. He's got a lot of spiritual strength and just very positive energy."
Harris and Ghost Ship founder Derick Almena both face 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter.
See more stories related to the Ghost Ship Fire case.
