2-Year-Old Injured In St. Paul Duplex Fire Dies

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO0 -- The family of a woman killed in a St. Paul fire is now grieving another loss.

A toddler that was in critical condition has also died.

Tiffany Alexander, 27, and her 2-year-old son, William, were not able to get out of their apartment when the fire broke out Wednesday morning.

Tiffany died at the scene. William was taken to the hospital where he later died.

We spoke to Thereza's sister, and Tiffany's aunt, who said the last 24 hours have been a blur.

There is a special bond between a mother and her son. To Laura Jessen, that was certainly true between her niece, Tiffany, and William.

"We like to say that he's with his mom now, so he followed her," Jessen said.

The mother and toddler were killed in St Paul's first fatal fire of the year. Tiffany's mother and William's grandmother, Thereza Alexander, was able to make it out along with another 3-year-old grandson, Gabe. Those two are still in the hospital.

The family has created a GoFundMe page to help with funeral costs for Tiffany and William, and also care for the 3-year-old daughter Tiffany leaves behind.

Amidst all of the tragedy, it has been a strange 24 hours for Jessen. She has been staying with her sister and great nephew at Regions Hospital, where her daughter welcomed a son Wednesday, and the same day she said goodbye to two family members.

"I was going through a lot of emotions, and same with my daughter, because she's really close to my sister, and for her not to be able to even get up and see her, you know, it's been tough for her," Jessen said.

The family said Thereza is being sedated. They said they do expect both her and Gabe to survive.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Click here if you would like to help the family through a donation.