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Three years later: Investigation of Flora Fire that killed four sisters continues

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Posted at 5:30 AM, Nov 21, 2019
and last updated 2019-11-21 13:44:31-05

FLORA — The November 2016 house fire in Flora remains under investigation.

The house sits empty — the silence echos many unknowns. Especially for who's responsible for the deaths of Keyanna, Keyara, Kierelle and Kionnie.

The girls' mother, Gaylin Rose, reached out and agreed to a FaceTime interview during her lunch break.

READ | Flora Fire: Family shares memories of sisters killed in fire |

"I want my babies to always be remembered. Never ever forget my girls because they were happy. They loved people and people loved them. They were just four girls that did not deserve that. We did not deserve it at all."

Click play on the video above to watch the full interview.

"I cry that I'm not the same no more," Rose said. "It's not the same here without them."

The Saturday before the fire, the girls, who were members of the 'Lafayette Diamonds' cheerleading squad, had been at a competition in South Bend.

A weekend of joy devastated by the deadly fire.

"I just want everyone to remember the good that we had; the laughs, the smiles, everything they were appreciative of, I want everyone to remember," Rose said. "They loved their mama and that their mama loved them."

November 21 will never be the same for Rose.

Neither are birthdays, or holidays or the days waiting for a break in the criminal case.

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If possible, the only antidote for her agony will be the day an arrest is announced.

"Just say something. Anything," Rose said of finding a suspect. "I don't have no understanding as to why the house would burn down. I just want you to be real for my kids, just come to peace for the girls."

The Indiana State Police says this is not a cold case.

Click play on the video above to watch the full interview with ISP.

"I think cold case Is like a sketch. A sketch is not a photograph — it's an idea, it's a rendering," Doug Carter, ISP Superintendent, said. "I think a cold case is when there's absolutely nothing, and that's not the case here."

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Indiana State Police Superintendent, Doug Carter, spoke with RTV6's Good Morning Indiana anchor Rafael Sanchez on the three-year rememberance of the Flora Fires.

"I've heard those detectives tell me, 'when we get done, superintendent, we're gonna start all over.' And that's what they've done, and they'll continue to do that," Superintendent Carter said. "The easy thing would be to walk away and just wait for it (tips) to come. It's not what people expect from us. That's not what I'm going to give them."

ISP released the following message in remembrance of the Flora Fire:
"November 21st of 2016, four young girls lost their lives at an arson fire in Flora, IN. Three years later, the Indiana State Police continues to utilize State, Local, County and Federal resources to accomplish our goal. We will continue to actively investigate all tips and leads available to us and work to bring justice for Keyana, Keyara, Kerriele and Kionnie. We encourage anyone with knowledge about this crime to contact Detective Brock Russell or Detective Ben Rector at 765-567-2125."

A blanket filled with pictures of the sisters gifted to Rose has helped comfort her three years later.

"It keeps me calms; it keeps me mellow," Rose said. "My babies are here with me but there not physically here with me."

The gift captures the happy days with Keyanna, Keyara, Kierelle, and Kionnie, nicknamed 'Pedal.'

"Kerielle — loved her feistiness. I love the way she clung to me and she smiled and she wanted you to smile and be happy," Rose said. "Pedal was more of my shy, quiet quiet baby. You would have to ask me for whatever she needed, because she would not say anything."

"Kiara was my quiet baby. I love the way she was a laid-back girl; grab a book, grab a show or a movie and she is quiet and she is content," Rose said. "Kiana was my adventure girlfriend. She wanted to go around the world if I let her. I love that she wanted to do and be something in her life."

If you have information leading to an arrest, the number to call is 1-800-382-4628.