The father of two children found dead in an East Haven, Connecticut, home on Tuesday afternoon spoke out for the first time publicly Thursday about the tragedy.
Michael Moore, of Bridgeport, said that whenever his children, Aleisha, 6, and Daaron, 8, were with him they were smiling.
"I always promised to do right by them and that 'Daddy wanted to make you smile one more time before you're home,' " Moore told NBC Connecticut , tearing up about the tragedy.
Police found the children dead inside 541 Strong Street in East Haven on Tuesday and their mother, LeRoya Moore, 36, was despondent with arm injuries when they responded to the house consumed by natural gas.
A neighbor had called 911 around 2:40 p.m. to report the incident, telling dispatchers, "My friend sent me a letter that she was going to kill herself" as she stood outside the locked house after speaking to the children's mother on the phone.
LeRoya Moore is still in the hospital and three responding police officers who were transported to the hospital for gas inhalation have since been released.
Police are classifying the children's deaths as "suspicious," but said responding officers found no signs of trauma on the children's bodies. Police didn't elaborate on why but said it will be up to the medical examiner to determine the causes of death.
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Police said it's unknown whether the gas was in the air because of a breakage or whether someone turned it on, but East Haven Police Chief Brent Larrabee said, "I would say from observation it was probably turned on."
While the family has confirmed the names of the mother and two children, police have not released their identities at this time.
Michael Moore remembers his son, Daaron as a "fun-loving 8-year-old boy who just loved life to the fullest" and said that Aleisha was "wise beyond her years" and a "very smart little girl."
As the yellow police tape came down and police continued to investigate, the community set up a makeshift memorial outside the home on Wednesday night as the neighbors also grieved the loss of the children. They put stuffed animals and candles out in their memory.
The cities of East Haven and New Haven are making grief counselors available, as the two children killed, a kindergarten student and first-grader, went to the King/Robinson charter school in New Haven.
A fundraiser is underway to raise money for the funerals of Daaron and Aleisha Moore. You can find more information on the Daaron and Aleisha Moore Memorial Fund at www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/gw09.
"The family is asking for the public to assist them in donations to help with the burial expenses," the GiveForward fundraising page said. "All donations are welcome. And we thank you all in advance for your prayers, words of comfort,encouragement and donations."
