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For everyone who wanted the update...

Community helps mom burned in fire allegedly set by boyfriend

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Associated Press--Courtesy of KGW News

PORTLAND, Ore. -- A mother of three has undergone the first of what could be many surgeries in her attempt to recover from an arson fire that left 80 percent of her body severely burned.


Krista Wiegel, 38, of McMinnville remains at Portland's Legacy Emanuel Hospital, said Lisa Miramontez, a friend who has started raising money to help pay Wiegel's ever-increasing medical expenses and the living costs for her children.


"She went into her first surgery on Saturday and made it through that," Miramontez told the McMinnville News-Register. "Doctors said she is doing about as well as they could expect, considering her condition. I think that she's got more surgeries coming up, but when they happen is going to depend on how she's doing."


Wiegel nearly died last week in the fire allegedly set by her boyfriend, Larry Barnard. Police were able to force their way inside the burning doublewide manufactured home to rescue her.


Barnard is in the Yamhill County Jail on charges of arson and assault. He had reportedly been intoxicated at the time of the fire and not taking his medication for bipolar disorder.


Besides her three children, one of whom is an adult living out-of-state, Wiegel is legal guardian of a nephew. The children are staying with her ex-husband while she recovers.


Miramontez has placed collection jars at checkout counters and the customer service desk at the McMinnville Albertsons, where she is a bookkeeper. She and Wiegel worked together at the supermarket before Wiegel got a different job.


A picture of Wiegel, information about her children and a description of medical-financial needs are displayed on each jar.


"Most of our customers have heard about Krista and the fire in the news, but when they see her picture they say, 'Wow, I know her,"' Miramontez said. "So far, people have been very kind."


Miramontez has also established an account to collect donations at U.S. Bank. Anyone wishing to help the family may contribute to the Krista Wiegel account at any U.S. Bank location.


Another close friend, Mary King, is asking for donations of clothing and gas cards. King said relatives need the gas cards to help defray the cost of visiting Wiegel in Portland.

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The kids are actually staying with a friend of mine. They are in desperate need of clothing, dressers, bedding and anything of that nature.

Anyhow please keep Krista in your thoughts and prayers!

THanks for the update Jen.


How are you feeling today. I hope better....

Mmm... Hanging in there, still god how I fecking hate that emoticons but it is fitting...
How are you today Dori? Hot enough for you?

Damn its really hot and the smoke is so bad you can hardly breath. Wasn't able to meet Joey cause they sent him off quickly to salinas.... Oh well maybe next time....

Aww that sucks, yeah last I talked to him he wasn't sure where he was going. It's pretty hot here, probably not as hot as there though. I'm staying inside where the AC is!

Thanks for the update DC - Ive been thinking of her - wish I had the money to pay for her treatment

I know, it's sad, seems like our community is really pulling together though. Thanks for thinking of her Trish!

Morning Tina!

Morning gorgelicious

I'm glad to hear she is doing better and that she has soooooooo much support...she must be one strong woman to have survived what she did...and now the man who did this to her needs to have the charges upgraded...assault just doesn't cut it in my books....

Bout my bedtime, so have a wonderful day!!

Thats a crazy charge, seems to me he attempted to murder her and his issues were more about control and domestic violence

agreed!

Yes I think the same thing...this was domestic violence at its finest.....regardless of the mans bi-polar or the fact he was drinking....the mans whole pattern...spells domestic violence...and ya know the charges almost contradict themselves in a way...they have charged him with arson...which means the fire was intentional...so obviously he had enough awareness to have intent and to know what he was doing...yet...they charge him with assault for what he did to her it sounds like on the basis...that he didn't know what he was doing...so which is it??????...UMMMMMMM makes no sense to me.....

You're right! Hopefully, they will update the charges but I dont know how these things work over there. I dont think the bi-polar plays a part in this at all - it was said on the original thread that bi-polar people are more lkely to harm themselves than anybody else. Good point on the arson charge too, it does imply intentional harm to life



..................

have a good kip hun

Night Trish!

I can't undrstand why it wasn't attempted murder. When a person takes that drink, they choose to do that and the few people I know are not harmful to other people and he must have know going off his meds would have a big time affect on him and those around. That poor woman probably wishes she were dead at this point. Years and years of pain ahead. So sad.

Yep.. so sad..