Skip to content

Family mourn 'deeply loved' girl killed in fire

Federica BedendoNorth East and Cumbria
Handout Valentina Foster is wearing pink glittery Minnie Mouse ears with a bow and a black and white bomber jacket. She has shoulder-length blonde hair and blue eyes and is smiling at the camera. She is standing in front of a building with white columns and ornate windows.Handout
Valentina Foster died alongside her aunt in a house fire in Grangetown

The family of a seven-year-old girl killed in a house fire said their lives had been changed forever by her "devastating loss".

Valentina Foster died alongside her aunt Natalie McDonald, 34, in the blaze at Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, in the early hours of 26 August. A man has been charged with their murders.

In a tribute, the youngster's parents said their daughter would "always be in our hearts, and her memory will live with us forever".

"She was deeply loved and will be missed beyond words by her family, friends, and everyone whose life she touched," they said.

"Our lives have changed forever, and we are struggling to come to terms with this devastating loss."

They added she would be "forever missed" by her brothers and sisters.

Supplied A composite image of Natalie McDonald and Valentina Foster. McDonald is wearing a white wedding dress with a tiara perched on her head. She has long dark hair and is holding a bouquet of white roses with four blue ones dotted within it. Valentina wears an electric blue dress with white flowers on the neckline and waist. She has long light brown hair with a blue and white headband. She is holding a small white basket with white and blue roses and she wears white gloves. Supplied
A man has been charged with murdering Natalie McDonald and Valentina Foster

On Tuesday, Jaden Wright, 23, appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court charged with two counts of murder as well as multiple grievous bodily harm offences in connection with the blaze.

A 31-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder was released with no further action.

Cleveland Police said a man and a woman remained in hospital while two teenage girls were discharged following treatment.

Lisa Kirton, Natalie's mother, previously told the BBC her daughter was "lovely, bright and bubbly" and "everybody loved her".

Initially police said they could not exclude a connection between the fire and organised crime linked to seven deaths, including two police officers, in a crash on the A66.

It since said the cases were not linked.

Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram and listen to Radio Tees on BBC Sounds.

More on this story
Related internet links