"She was a blessing, my little angel:" Mother grieves her daughter, who died in house fire



WAUWATOSA (WITI) --  The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office has released its report on the three-year-old girl that died following a house fire in Wauwatosa Sunday, February 22nd. The report identifies the child as Faith Cruz -- and a GoFundMe page has been established to help the family pay for funeral costs.

Faith Cruz (Credit: GoFundMe.com/Faith2015)



FOX6 News spoke with the parents of young Faith. They say she was a vibrant, loving little girl.

"She loved to dance and cook and sing she was a happy baby  very smart," said Carlos Cruz, still inconsolable about losing his only daughter.

Faith's mother, Jean Haas, is also grief-stricken.

"I had three miscarriages before her. So she was a blessing, my little angel," said Haas.

Faith died after fire tore through a home on N. 106th St. in Wauwatosa on Sunday, February 22nd. She and her uncle were inside the building at the time the fire broke out.

It is little comfort, but Haas says her daughter was not in pain during her final moments of life.

"I talked to the coroner. He said Faith probably did not suffer. Her carbon monoxide level was like 46 -- she probably just fell asleep," said Haas.



Haas believes the fire started in the basement of the home. She wants answers, but the only other person inside the building was her brother.

"He burned 30 percent of his body and has tubes down his throat.. I have a little bit of anger because in my mind, I think fire everybody out the house. I'm thinking he should  have grabbed Faith and left the house," said Haas. "Maybe he was trapped, maybe he couldn't get her. But they found him on the porch."

While fire officials try to get answers to her questions, Haas clutches the toddler's favorite bear, trying to still keep her close.

"She was my world. Everything was Faith," said Haas. "I look at it, I'm a believer in God and I feel like maybe he needed her for something."

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office says Faith's death appears to be related to smoke inhalation or products of combustion.