Mother dies from injuries sustained trying to save her children

ALLEGAN COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – A West Michigan mother who was badly burned on Monday trying to save her children from a fire, has died from her injuries.

25-year-old Christie Everett died Tuesday morning at Bronson Hospital. Everett had been airlifted to Bronson on Monday with severe burns that she suffered in a fire where her four-year-old son, Joseph, died. He was found in a back bedroom of the home.

The community in Pullman is now pulling together to offer help and support to Everett's husband and three surviving children while they grieve for the two lives lost.

Pictures on the wall at the Pullman VFW hall show a smiling Everett at Halloween. Her co-workers there remember Everett as a happy, hard-working mom. A mom who desperately tried to save her four-year-old son.

Little Joseph Everett was in the back bedroom when fire raced through the Everett home. Witnesses say Christie was severely burned when she tried to go back into the home to save her son.

"That doesn't surprise me at all she would go back in for her children," said Bridget Young, who worked with Everett. "She loved her children, she loved everybody's children. She was a good mom."

State Police fire investigator, Sgt. Scott Leroy, says the bedroom where Joseph died was so badly burned there isn't enough left for him to give a definite answer as to what caused the fire.

"There's nothing suspicious about the fire," said Sgt. Leroy. "The mother made a statement to EMS personnel before she left the scene that her young son may have been playing with matches."

Sgt. Leroy also said that other interviews might help him come to a conclusion about what caused the fire.

Meanwhile, folks in Pullman are collecting money, food, and clothing for the Everett family.

Everett's father told Newschannel 3 that funeral arrangements are still pending.