Vdarius Wade Jr

Vdarius Wade Jr., a bright-eyed and beloved 4-year-old Black boy, was known to his family as "JR." Born on December 13, 2014, his life was tragically extinguished far too soon. Vdarius was a resident of Birmingham, Alabama, where he lived with his mother and three siblings, surrounded by the daily rhythms of a young family.

The night that shattered their lives unfolded in the quiet, pre-dawn hours of Thursday, July 25, 2019. Just after 4:30 a.m., a neighbor in the 4500 block of 8th Avenue in Birmingham’s Wylam neighborhood noticed smoke and flames coming from the family’s home and immediately called 911. Firefighters from the Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service rushed to the scene, arriving to find the house engulfed in a blaze. They bravely entered the burning structure to search for anyone trapped inside. It was there, amidst the smoke and heat, that they made a heartbreaking discovery: Vdarius was found deceased inside the home.

Rescuers managed to pull his mother, 24-year-old Marqueshe Lajay Smith, and his two younger brothers from the fire. Ms. Smith, who was 23 at the time of the fire but turned 24 before passing, was transported with critical injuries to UAB Hospital. The children, 3-year-old LaCarter Wade and a 5-month-old infant brother, were rushed to Children’s of Alabama, both in serious condition. The family and community held onto hope, but the tragedy was far from over.

Later that same day, on Thursday night, Marqueshe Smith succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. The family was struck by another devastating loss just two days later. On Saturday, July 27, at 5:53 p.m., 3-year-old LaCarter Wade also died from the severe injuries he sustained in the fire. The youngest child, the 5-month-old boy, remained in the hospital, fighting for his life in critical condition. In the span of three days, a single fire had claimed the lives of a young mother and two of her small children.

An investigation into the cause of the deadly fire began immediately. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Sebastian Carrillo addressed the media, stating that while the investigation was active, there was nothing to initially indicate that the fire was the result of arson. A crucial and somber detail emerged from the investigation: the home was not equipped with smoke detectors, a fact that may have contributed to the tragic outcome. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office later officially confirmed the identities of Marqueshe Smith and her two sons, Vdarius and LaCarter.

As of the latest public reports from July 2019, the case was being handled as a tragic fire investigation, and foul play was not suspected. No arrests have been announced in connection with the incident. The community was left to grapple with the immense loss of three lives. A shared funeral service to celebrate the lives of Vdarius, his brother LaCarter, and their mother Marqueshe was held at noon on Saturday, August 3, 2019, at Bethel Baptist Church Collegeville. They were laid to rest together at Forest Hill Cemetery, leaving behind grieving family members, friends, and a neighborhood forever marked by the tragedy.