‘Some parasite wants to get rich on my baby boy’: Mother of murder-suicide house fire victim slams sick Facebook fraudster who set up a fake funeral fundraising page in her name
- Billy Hicks, 24, was one of three killed in New Year’s Day fire in Lincolnshire
- Fundraising page set up in the name of his mother to raise funds for his funeral
- But Facebook account in her name that shared it does not appear to be genuine
- Friend said they were ‘absolutely appalled by this despicable human being’
The mother of a man killed in a house fire murder-suicide has slammed a Facebook ‘parasite’ who set up a fake fundraising page to ‘get rich on her baby boy’.
‘Livid’ Rose Hicks revealed her Facebook picture was used to create a fake profile and share a link for donations to her son’s funeral on the website Go Get Funding.
Billy Hicks, 24, was one of three people killed in the New Year’s Day fire in Kirton, Lancashire, which also claimed the life of his ex-girlfriend Jay Edmunds, 27.
Ms Hicks wrote on Facebook: ‘I am livid please do not donate any money for Billy’s funeral on the go fund I DID NOT do it some parasite wants to get rich on my baby boy.’
‘Livid’ Rose Hicks, the mother of house fire victim Billy, revealed her Facebook picture was used to create a fake profile and share a link for donations to her son’s funeral (pictured)
Billy Hicks, 24, was named by former colleagues as one of the three people killed in the blaze
The account (pictured today) uses the same profile photo as Mrs Hick’s genuine page, but has never posted anything and does not have a friends list or any other information attached to it
As of 2pm today, the fundraising total on the page stood at £101 out of a £5,000 target
That Facebook account uses the same profile photo as Mrs Hicks’s actual page, but has never posted anything and does not have a friends list or any other information.
-
Hero neighbours smashed their way into burning house to…
Pictured: Family home is completely devastated by flames as…
Share this article
As of 2pm today, the fundraising total on the page stood at £101 out of a £5,000 target. It was later pulled down, and MailOnline has contacted police for comment.
Jay Edmunds, 27, died in the New Year’s Day house fire in Kirton, Lincolnshire
Joanne Heaton, who is believed to be Mr Hicks’s sister, also posted on Facebook: ‘Some sick person has pretended to start a donation page for Billy on Go Get Funding. Please do not donate – it’s a scam.’
Debz Wilson added: ‘I’m absolutely appalled by this despicable human being. I’ve reported both pages.’
Fire victim Miss Edmunds had split up with long term partner Mr Hicks a year ago and shortly before he lost his beloved father.
But the couple remained close friends even though both moved onto new relationships, friends said today.
A third man aged 32 also died in the fire which destroyed the £340,000 home owned and rented out by Miss Edmunds’s parents, former pub chef Paul and his wife Donna, both 54.
Lincolnshire Police will not say who the killer is in the ‘domestic related’ murder which is still being investigated. Officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
But a jealous ‘psycho’ lover or ex is said to have sparked the inferno after first stabbing the two victims before dying too.
A forensic investigator at the scene yesterday after the devastating fire in Kirton, Lincolnshire
This comment underneath a post by a friend of Billy Hicks sparked concerns the tragedy is being exploited by a troll for money. The Facebook account that linked the page is in the name of his mother, Rose Hicks, but does not appear to be a genuine profile. Grab taken today
The bodies were burned beyond recognition and were identified by dental records.
Survivor Natalie Hall, who escaped the ferocious flames at the large detached house by jumping from a bedroom window, told how a jealous ‘complete psycho’ had ignited the property in a fit of rage.
A neighbour said the horror begun when a male carrying a jerry can of petrol shouted ‘If I can’t have you no one else will’ before setting it ablaze.
Detectives are investigating the possibility that a love triangle row fuelled the 3.15am bloodshed which has shocked and saddened neighbours.
Paul and Donna Edmunds, who have a son Liam sharing the house and now live in Devon, are said to be ‘totally numbed and devastated’ by the tragedy.
Natalie Hall (left) is thought to have escaped after jumping from a top floor bedroom – and only suffered a leg injury. Rachel Braim (right), a Police Community Support Officer, also escaped
A friend of Billy and Jay’s named only as Liam said: ‘This is a crazy situation and unbelievable. Our hearts are broken. They were a lovely couple, on off and he hoped back on.
‘They’d been together for years and both worked at Jay’s parents’ pub but split up last January. They stayed mates but moved on with new partners.
‘We heard that Billy’s latest girlfriend had given him the elbow just before Christmas. He was upset and still grieving over his dad’s death and really hoped he and Jay could make it work again.’
Liam, 23, who declined to be fully identified, added: ‘But Jay had been seeing someone else.
The fire at the £350,000 property (above) is being treated as a ‘domestic related’ murder
‘It was all a bit complicated because she still cared for Billy, they’d been together for ages before splitting.
‘No one knows what happened in the house, it’s sickening, and who killed who and there’s all these rumours going round and it’s horrible and police won’t say anything.’
A heartbroken friend of both mobile phone customer adviser Mr Hicks and Miss Edmunds posted a heartfelt tribute to them on Facebook.
Lyndon Stark wrote: ‘Rest in peace Billy Hicks. Shared some laughs back in the days. You’re back with your dad safe from this sh***y world. Until we meet again sleep tight.’
He added: ‘Rest in peace Jay Edmunds. Thinking of all the families involved. If I can do anything to help do not refuse to ask.’
Rhys Jones simply posted: ‘Some very sad news just received. My work bestie Jay. Going to miss you millions. RIP beautiful.’
The manager at the Black Bill pub in Kirton, which Mr Hicks and Miss Edmunds used to visit, said: ‘It is dreadful news and we are so sorry to hear about their deaths.
‘They often popped in for a drink and seemed like a lovely young couple. They were known by many in the community and everyone’s taking about the tragedy.’
Police launched the probe following the huge fire at the house (pictured on Wednesday)
A local beauty shop, Sylvia’s Salon, is collecting clothes and personal items for the two survivors of the blaze, Miss Hall and Rachel Braim, who lost everything.
A note on the window reads: ‘Any donations to the victims of the Kirton fire can be dropped off here at the salon. Thank you.’
A beautician, who was at school with Billy, said: ‘This is truly shocking and we as a business just wanted to do something to help the community.
‘Three people lost their lives and two girls who survived have lost everything they own in that fire. We are asking people to donate clothes and essentials to give to them.’
The victims in the blaze at the detached home (pictured on Wednesday) were 24, 27 and 32
Mr Hicks worked as a bar team leader at the Spirit of Endeavour in Boston from April 2015 to June 2017.
Girlfriend Miss Edmunds, a childhood sweetheart, also helped out at the pub run by her parents.
The couple split up in January last year and weeks later Mr Hicks lost his father Derek Hicks, which friends say ‘both broke his heart’.
He posted on social media: ‘Rest in peace dad. I’ll love you forever’ with a heart & sad face emojis.
Two people taken to hospital after the fire at the house (above, Wednesday) were discharged
While Miss Edmunds later moved on with a fresh partner, Mr Hicks started dating Lisha Lowe.
He posted a celebratory tribute to his sweetheart last month saying: ‘Happy birthday beautiful lady. Hope you enjoyed the presents. I love you millions.’
Ms Lowe has been ‘too upset’ to make any public comment about Mr Hicks’s death with a pal saying: ‘She doesn’t want to talk. Everyone’s hurting.’
Local residents suggest the couple has recently split up.
Police launched a domestic-related murder probe after the fire at the home (on Wednesday)
One of Mr Hicks’s friends, George Baldwin, wrote on Facebook: ‘For a few days I’ve been wondering how to say something when the time comes but you never think about writing something like this about someone so young and full of life and that you know so well, someone that could brighten up the mood in a room with his smile or one simple funny comment, someone with a kind loving heart, there if you needed to talk to him about something on your mind, but yet still take the p*** out of you when you’re with the lads.
‘He was always the one that would make everyone laugh till we would have tears in our eyes. You impacted so many lives with your laughter and love – and the proof is here with the amount of people sharing memories with you, and the amazing things they have said about you is enough to show what kind of person you were.’
The destroyed house is pictured in the most recent Google Street View image from 2009
Another friend, Beth Teft, added: ‘How awful, I went to school with him and we had such a laugh. He was my bus buddy. Used to have a right laugh to and from school. The most funniest, kindest and biggest joker I’ve ever met.’
And Leon Andrew said: ‘RIP, Billy Hicks. You were a decent lad, known you all the way through school. I am so sorry to hear this horrible news, just so devastating that you went so cruelly and so young.
‘You didn’t deserve this mate. My sinceres [sic] go out to all your family. You will be greatly missed by everyone who knew you and loved you.’
A dozen brightly coloured bouquets of flowers have been placed on the pavement within the police cordon outside the burned-out home.
For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, or see samaritans.org for details.
As of 2pm this afternoon, the fundraising total on the page stands at £101 out of a £5,000 target. MailOnline has contacted Lincolnshire Police for comment
Natalie Hall, 21, is thought to have escaped after jumping from a top floor bedroom – and only suffered a leg injury
A forensic investigator at the scene yesterday after the devastating fire in Kirton, Lincolnshire
Rachel Braim, a Police Community Support Officer is also thought to have escaped the blaze
Detectives were thought to be investigating the theory that a love triangle could have triggered the bloodshed before the blaze took hold from about 3am. Pictured: Billy Hicks
He said: ‘I’ve heard the guy found out he had been cheated on and went into the house with a jerry can of fuel which he set light to.
‘There was a New Year’s party going on and it was after most people had left that all hell broke loose. He told his girl: ‘No one else will ever have you. I’ll make sure of that’.’
Fabio added that a house guest who jumped to safety told police and a few neighbours about the ‘relationship crisis.’
He said: ‘The guy who started the fire was absolutely mad when he found out hid girlfriend had cheated on him with someone he knew.’
One survivor, Natalie Hall, 21, is thought to have escaped after jumping from a top floor bedroom – and only suffered a leg injury.
A witness told The Sun: ‘We helped and she kept going on about this ex she said was a complete psycho.’
She later wrote on Facebook: ‘I am fine, just a few minor injuries on my legs from where I jumped out of my bedroom window.
‘I am very lucky to be alive which is more than I can say for my wonderful friends who were taken away that night. My condolences to their families.’
Friends have also already started fundraising for those involved in the fire as investigators comb through the wreckage of the home.
The fire at the £350,000 property (above) is being treated as a ‘domestic related’ murder
Police launched the investigation following the huge fire at the house (pictured yesterday)
Another survivor was Rachel Braim, whose friends set up a JustGiving page and said she was ‘obviously traumatised and has lost all personal possessions’.
One friend said: ‘Rachel was able to get a housemate and eventually herself to safety. Despite her efforts, three died in the fire.’
Rachel Braim, a Police Community Support Officer, is also thought to have survived the fire.
Talking about Miss Hall’s escape, neighbour Lewis McGarry said: ‘She jumped out of the top window to escape the fire and hurt her foot and may have even broken as she landed.
‘She was in a lot of distress pain and me and my friend were trying to console her.’
He called the emergency services before running to the ferociously burning house two doors away – and described the heat as ‘so hot and intense’.
He said: ‘It was impossible to get into the house. The fire was massive and it was shocking – and we could hear voices screaming ‘help me.’ ‘
Mr McGarry had just got back home from a New Year’s Eve celebration when he heard ‘a massive bang’ at about 3.15am and felt the house shake.
He said: ‘I thought something had fallen down upstairs so did my mum but when I pulled back the blinds I saw a cloud of smoke and a reflection in the house opposite of huge flames.
‘I called the emergency services then ran to the scene. I didn’t panic but stayed calm. I’m used to dealing with beach incidents from my work as a RNLI lifeguard.
‘I was with a friend and we could hear the screams of people trapped inside. Then we saw this woman on the ground outside who told us she had jumped and been screaming for her life.’
The three victims in the blaze at the detached home (pictured yesterday) were 24, 27 and 32
Two people taken to hospital after the fire at the house (pictured yesterday) were discharged
Mr McGarry said the woman told him something significant had happened before the fire but police have told us not to repeat it.
‘I didn’t know the woman, I think she lived in the rented house with room mates,’ he said.
‘She looked as if she had been our earlier because she was still wearing a black skirt and top and has three glow sticks hanging from her neck.
‘The police were there within five minutes and fire brigade a few minutes after wards. I don’t think it’s quite hit me yet what happened. It’s horrendous.
‘We couldn’t stay in our house that night because we were told it may not be safe but it’s since been checked.’
Witness John Holland, who lives opposite the property, said: ‘I could see flames shooting through the roof. There was a lady in the downstairs window.
‘Me and this other chap, we rushed over to the front door. I picked up a brick and we smashed the plate glass in the porch. We dragged her through and out.’
Lincolnshire Police Superintendent Di Coulson said: ‘There is one suspect and we believe that suspect died within the property.’
She added there had been a relationship between two of the parties involved and ‘the incident we believe is as a result of an issue with that relationship’.
Police launched a domestic-related murder probe after the fire at the home (above, yesterday)
The destroyed house is pictured in the most recent Google Street Village image from 2009
Source: Read Full Article