Husband of deadly Oakland fire victim speaks out

Byby Melanie Woodrow KGO logo
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Husband of Oakland fire victim speaks out
Officials say they'll need dental records or DNA to identify the fourth victim in Monday's Oakland fire at San Pablo and Mead Avenue.

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Officials in Oakland say they will need dental records or DNA to identify the fourth victim in Monday's fire at San Pablo and Mead Avenue.

The coroner has now identified a third victim but that person's name is not being released until the victim's family in the Midwest is notified, according to the Alameda County Sheriff's Office.

The husband of one of the victims already identified stopped by the building Wednesday to grieve.

LeAndre Johnson says he married victim Cassandra Robertson in December of 2016. "I can't get her back so I'm devastated," said Johnson. "Beautiful woman, two beautiful kids, she was a great ball of joy to be around, great cook," he continued.

RELATED: Oakland officials continue slow careful investigation after deadly fire

Johnson's brother Tywon Lee says he wishes they had been at the building when the fire began. He wonders if the two men might have saved Cassandra who they say made one of her final calls to their mother.

"Cassandra said the dog is dead, she's trapped, there's too much smoke and she can't get out," said Lee.

I-TEAM: Records show building complaints where at least 3 died in Oakland fire

At a nearby shelter Red Cross Volunteers say 35 of the more than 80 residents slept there last night.

"The city is working closely with Red Cross and other agencies to find permanent housing for these people," said shelter manager Martha Fateman.

"A lot of frustration people are getting antsy and edgy," said fire victim Gail Harbin.

Harbin says she complained about conditions inside the building many times to the owner.

"He could have prevented this from happening to such an extent," said Harbin.

That possibility is one of the reasons Leandre is sharing his story.

"What do we do about the buildings in this community that are run down, do you put a stop to it now, what do you do about the people that are living in them.

Do you put them somewhere else," Johnson rhetorically asked. Officials are still investigating what caused the fire.

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