10th victim dies in Fall River Gabriel House assisted living fire, Bristol County DA says
DA Thomas Quinn said Brenda Cropper, 66, died Friday afternoon. She had been hospitalized in critical condition since the fire Sunday night.
Cropper's daughter, Crystal Andrade, told WBZ-TV Thursday that Cropper has four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. The family said she suffered multiple organ failure and burns over more than 50% of her body in the fire.
"I just want the person that, the owner of the building to take accountability and apologize," Andrade said. "Just to say sorry and to have empathy."
Nine other victims, all over the age of 60, were killed in Sunday's fire: 64-year-old Rui Albernaz, 61-year-old Ronald Codega, 69-year-old Margaret Duddy, 78-year-old Robert King, 71-year-old Kim Mackin, 78-year-old Richard Rochon, 86-year-old Eleanor Willett and 77-year-old Joseph Wilansky. More than two dozen people were injured.
Quinn said the investigation into the fire's origin and cause continues. Sources told WBZ-TV's I-Team that they're looking at the possibility that the fire was caused by smoking near an oxygen tank. The sources also said investigators are looking into the possibility that the building's sprinkler system may have been clogged and not working properly. Gov. Maura Healey has since announced measures will be taken to ensure all 273 assisted living facilities in the state are prepared for fires and other emergencies.
Friday night, the Fall River community gathered at St. John Banquet Hall to raise money for those who survived the fire.
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While it's clear that romance scams come in as many varieties as there are phish in the sea, keep an eye out for these red flags to protect your heart: An unwillingness to meet in person or to take video calls. A little too much emphasis on keeping things private. 'Love bombing,' or bombarding you with compliments and affection, or accelerating the relationship at warp speed right from the jump — this is a tactic to gain your trust and confidence, and to exploit your vulnerability. Inconsistencies in your match's story, or consistently evading questions. Photos that look too polished or AI-generated, or that seem stolen (try a reverse Google Image search and see if any hits come up). Fairy tale romances that seem too good to be true. Any and all asks for money or private information from any person (or bot) you've never met in the real world. When those red flags add up, act quickly to block and report the scammer on whatever platform you're on, and contact your bank ASAP if any money has begun changing hands. You can also head to to report scams — or better yet, avoid divulging funds or private info to online strangers in the first place. Frequently Asked Questions If you're still curious about romance scams, you're not alone. Some of the most commonly searched questions for romance scams include: Will a romance scammer talk on the phone? Typically, no. Catfishers will make a variety of excuses to avoid meeting in person, talking on the phone, or video chatting, often kicking the can down the road indefinitely. In the rare circumstance in which they do give you a call, try running their digits through a reverse phone lookup to see if they really are who they claim to be. 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