ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Nearly one week after a possible gas explosion at Woodhill Apartments, the victim’s family is sharing their story and looking for someone to be held accountable.
Mikeanesha Moore was critically injured in the possible gas explosion on Friday.
Moore, along with her husband Raven Fondia and their three children, moved down to Florida two years ago for a new beginning. After spending some time in Altamonte Springs, Mikeanesha found Woodhill Apartments.
It was an exciting time for the family — until the unthinkable happened.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
“She returned home at 9:28 (a.m.), and then the gas pipes exploded at 9:33 (a.m.) — not even five minutes later,” said Fondia.
Fondia said he was at work at the time, and his boss brought him to Orlando Regional Medical Center.
“When I saw her, it tore me down,” Fondia said. “I don’t want to say much in case my kids come across this footage, but it’s severe. Very severe. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life, and the first time seeing this being my wife — I’m not even eating, I’m not sleeping, I’m worried about my mental state at this point.”
Last week, News 6 spoke to residents at Woodhill Apartments, who explained they’ve dealt with gas-related issues in the past.
News 6 asked Orange County Fire Rescue about this. They said there have been four calls to Woodhill Apartments where a gas odor was reported from Jan. 1, 2023 to March 5, 2024.
They also pointed out this does not mean a gas odor was detected or confirmed.
“I need someone held accountable,” Fondia said. “I can’t say who, I’m not going to say who, but someone needs to be held accountable. She was home alone when this happened and it wasn’t her fault.”
Fondia said they’ve reached out to local resources for help, but so far he said no one has returned his calls. Now, he’s temporarily living in an extended stay with their three boys.
“On top of that, they don’t even know the full story about their mom yet,” Fondia said. “That’s the most hard thing on me right now I haven’t found the strength to let them know the full story. They know she was hospitalized, but they don’t know the full story.”
Moore’s mother, Latrice Moore flew down from Chicago with nothing but the clothes on her back when she heard the devastating news.
“I thought I was going to be able to walk in there and she was going to be okay,” Moore said. “I walked in there, and I saw her — I couldn’t even see her. Her head was like a basketball. She was swollen. I can’t even look at her and she wants me there and I can’t do it. I’m trying to get the strength because I know she wants me there.”
Latrice Moore said that right now, they’re trying to help Fondia and her three grandchildren, whether it’s finding a place to stay or finding new clothes.
“The apartment was open, (Raven) went in there digging through the clothes with all these bags, and I’m like, ‘Moo, you gotta make sure they don’t smell like smoke,’” Latrice Moore said. “You can’t put those clothes on them if they smell like smoke or gas. And he’s like, ‘I know mama, but I gotta have something to put on my kids.’”
Fondia said Mikeanesha has another planned surgery on Friday. Her family has set up a GoFundMe to help with their expenses. If you’re interested in donating, click here.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: