EXCLUSIVE: Family Speaks After Son's Death
By: Aaron Cheslock
Updated: November 24, 2012
8 days ago, 3-year old Darrel Etchison Jr was killed in a fire at his home in Altoona.
His mother and sister barely escaped the flames.
Police charged Aaron Dishong for setting that fire. They say he was trying to kill an ex-girlfriend and that he thought was staying there.
Darrel's mother Brandy Etchison was just released from the hospital.
Among others, Dishong faces homicide, arson, and assault charges. Police say they have phone recordings of him incriminating himself as the arsonist. Now, the Etchison's are back in Altoona, and trying to pick up the pieces. Without a home, and without a son.
Brandy Etchison is still trying to come to grips with why Aaron Dishong allegedly set fire to their house with her kids inside. Police say Dishong was stalking his ex-girlfriend, who stayed with the Etchison's off and on over the past few weeks. This woman told Etchison - Dishong claims he did torch another ex's house.
"...She said he tried to burn his ex-girlfriends house down before, he succeeded, just didn't get caught."
Etchison says Dishong's had been threatening his ex-girlfriend at their house.
"...one time my husband found a note on our door, she said that he was stalking her, I was in the car a couple times, but I couldn't prove that he was stalking her, you know."
Darrel Etchison Sr says life in prison isn't enough for Dishong.
"...Make sure this animal gets the death penalty, nothing short."
But Darrel Sr knows no punishment can change what's done.
"...None of that's going to bring my boy back."
The fire killed 3-year-old Darrel Jr. Brandy, just released from the hospital, had to jump out of a window; she saved her 2-year-old daughter Madison, but couldn't save DJ. She says he froze in the moment.
"I looked out the window, I had my daughter hanging by her hand, and I was trying to get my son, to come with me but he wouldn't move..."
Madison was released from the hospital last week but is still traumatized.
Joanne Helsel, a family friend, had the Etchison's over for Thanksgiving and worries about Madison too.
"What two year old would understand that?... I think she's going to still look for her brother to play with and. They were best friends. They were always playing together. It's just horrible what happened."
The Etchison's are living both with Helsel and out of a hotel room. In part 3, we'll talk with the Etchison's about what happens next without a home? Where will they live? And why it took 15 years for Brandy to have DJ, who she calls her miracle child.
