Family members have identified the two victims of a house fire in Jasper as a mother and her two-year-old son.
Firefighters found the bodies of Zayne and Kathleen "Nina" Pierce, 35, inside the burning home on Oakmont Drive, according to the boy's uncle. "It’s been shock, disbelief," said Gary Ferguson. "I wanted to wake up this morning and for it to be a bad dream."
Ferguson described his sister-in-law as a fun-loving goofball with a great sense of humor.
He said their sons were supposed to be lifelong friends.
"Heaven's bright with that smile, I can tell you," he said. "A beautiful little boy. Sweet, so sweet."
Jasper firefighters say they got the call just before 7:48 a.m.
They say they were on the scene within two minutes, but still nothing could be done. Neighbors heard some sort of explosion before smoke billowed out of the house.