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Pot On Stove Called Source Of Lutz Fire That Killed Family

Crystal Dooley, left, with Mariano William "Pete" Pita.

Photo courtesy of the Dooley Family

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By MIKE WELLS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 18, 2008

Updated: 04/18/2008 03:40 pm

TAMPA - Good intentions ended in tragic circumstances this week with the deaths of a 4-year-old Lutz boy and his parents after a mobile home fire.

Their home at Sunrise Mobile Home Park caught fire about midnight Tuesday from a pot left on a hot stove, fire officials said.

They became trapped because the backdoor was screwed shut with sheet metal screws — something the child's father did to keep the mentally disabled boy from wandering, a relative said.

"In his mind, he was keeping his son from getting out," said the boy's grandfather, Calvin Dooley. "He ended up entombing them."

The toddler, Gabriel William Pita, died at the scene.

Gabriel William Pita

His mother, Crystal Dooley, 37, was disconnected from a life support machine at Tampa General Hospital on Wednesday. His father, Mariano William "Pete" Pita, 44, was disconnected at University Community Hospital on Thursday afternoon, said Crystal Dooley's father, Calvin Dooley.

Fire investigators found no evidence of a smoke alarm in the home, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue spokesman Ray Yeakley said today.

Doctors told relatives that the parents were clinically brain dead when they arrived at the hospital because of a lack of oxygen and smoke inhalation, Dooley said. They were kept on breathing machines to give family a chance to say goodbye before their organs were donated, he said.

"There was no hope," Dooley said.

Pita and Crystal Dooley had struggled financially for years, her father said. They'd been evicted more than once and Pita, who'd served a brief prison sentence for cocaine, was frequently unable to find work because of a severe foot injury.

They were further challenged because Gabriel was born mentally disabled, he said.

"They loved that boy, so much," Calvin Dooley said. "That baby was their life."

Gabriel's medical issues were never fully diagnosed, Dooley said. He was overly large for his age, frequently wandered away from the home and lashed out by biting, kicking and breaking windows.

"It was a full-time job just watching him," the grandfather said. "One of them had to be with the baby all the time."

Despite this, Gabriel was still a very sweet boy, he said, adding that the child would sit calmly for hours watching his favorite cartoons.

During a recent visit, Gabriel was incredibly affectionate, he said.

"When I was about to leave, Crystal told him to 'give grandpa a hug and kiss,'" Dooley said, sobbing. "And he gave me a big hug and kiss. I loved him so much."

The grandfather is anguished over not having known earlier about Pita screwing the door shut, he said.

A neighbor told him his daughter could be heard screaming and banging on the back door of the home to get out before she dropped to the floor.

It all could have been avoided, he said.

"If you have a trailer, please don't lock yourself or your child in," Dooley said. "Please don't put screws in so you can't get out. You've got to have more than one way out."

The family is planning a group memorial service at Gonzalez Funeral Home in Tampa for all three victims, he said. A date has yet to be announced.

"They loved him so much," Dooley said of Gabriel. "I guess that's the reason they're all gone now. They didn't want to lose him."

Reporter Mike Wells can be reached at (813) 259-7839 or mwells@tampatrib.com.

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