A family in Illinois is dealing with an unspeakable tragedy. Three boys have all died after a deadly fire at their grandmother’s home. Due to the magnitude of the fire, it was practically impossible to save the three boys. Despite the best efforts of all involved, not much could be done to keep them alive. The family is mourning the overwhelming loss along with their community, which is rallying its support. The boys’ mother, Josephine Beauchane, has spoken about the last moments she had with her boys.
The last time Beauchane held her 2-year-old son Kayden was on the night of Sunday, March 30, 2025. Earlier that morning, his twin Jayden and their 1-year-old brother Xander died in a house fire.
“I felt his heart stop. I watched as he took his last breath, and had to sit there and listen as the doctors told me they wouldn’t be able to save him anymore,” the mom told WLS of Kayden’s last moments.
“They were crying for mama, and trying to find out where mama was, and mama was racing over here to find out if they were OK,” she said of her three sons.
Shortly after 9:30 a.m., a powerful fire broke out in the basement of the boys’ grandmother’s home. The Carpentersville Fire Department was called, and they showed up around 9:45. By then, the house was engulfed in flames, and six people were trapped inside.
“Upon arrival, the crews had fire coming out of all four windows of the building here,” Carpentersville Fire Chief William Anaszewicz said. “So, their immediate response was to try to put the fire out, and then initiate the searches, then made it in through the front door, and were able to take two of the older victims out, and then conducted the searches in the lower level, where the children were reported.”
Family told WLS that the boys’ grandmother “tried so hard” to save the boys. “She kept running into the house, trying to find those children. She could not find them. The smoke was too, too strong,” their great-grandmother, Christina Castillo, said.
The grandmother is expected to survive. Also in the home were the boys’ father and grandfather, as well as the grandmother’s boyfriend. Two of them were treated for smoke exposure, but were released.
The cause of the fire will take time to determine, officials say. Autopsies have been performed on the boys, but the causes and manners of death have not yet been released.
“I wasn’t even able to say goodbye. At least I was able to say goodbye to Kayden,” Beauchane said at a vigil held on Monday, March 31, WGN reported. “Don’t leave without saying goodbye, because you won’t know it’s going to be your last time.”
