Friends, family, return to fatal fire site

By Joe Gorman | April 3, 2015 at 12:09a.m.

Lynn Schmidt, WFMJ-TV Interview

There is still no word on what caused the fatal fire that killed 10-year-old Corinne Gump and her grandparents. Up until now Corinne's mother, Lynn Schmidt, has not spoken to reporters about the fire. She admits she doesn't have any proof, but she shared her opinions with Vindicator broadcast partner 21 WFMJ-TV reporter Glenn Stevens.

YOUNGSTOWN

State agents on Thursday night searched the Green Township home of the man accused of raping the girl killed in Monday’s fire on Powers Way on the city’s South Side.

Agents with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation searched the Calla Road home of Robert Seman, but Mahoning County officials would not say what they were searching for or if the search is related to the fire that killed 10-year-old Corinne Gump and her grandparents, William and Judith Schmidt.

County Prosecutor Paul Gains would only say that the search warrant was issued by a county common pleas court judge. He refused to comment further because the warrant is sealed.

Seman, 45, is accused of raping Corinne, whose mother is his ex- girlfriend. His trial was to begin Monday in common pleas court, but it was delayed and his bond was revoked by Judge Maureen Sweeney after prosecutors told her a woman who has not been identified claimed Seman tried to bribe her over the weekend. Corinne was to be the witness in the trial.

No bond hearing has been set. If convicted, he faces life in prison.

Firefighters and investigators from the state fire marshal’s office and Youngstown fire Capt. Alvin Ware, head of the department’s Fire Investigation Unit, continued their probe at the Schmidts’ Powers Way home Thursday. Officials have said it may take some time for a cause of the fire to be known, because several items taken from the home were sent away to be tested for evidence.

They believe the fire started in the basement, and early in the investigation they said they found nothing to indicate the blaze was the result of any criminal action, but no official cause has been determined yet.

Firefighters and Chief John O’Neill watched Thursday as friends and family of the victims retrieved keepsakes from inside the charred house. Across the street, a fire investigator was interviewing a neighbor.

Christine Seman, Corinne’s aunt who was once married to Robert Seman — said Corinne was very close to her cousins, and she liked four-wheeling and swimming.

The one constant about her was her smile, Christine Seman said of her niece. People have been remembering Corinne’s smile when they mention her, she said.

Ethan Gump, Corinne’s dad, said he did not want to comment about the loss of his daughter, but he was careful to make sure everything at a makeshift memorial at the house stayed dry.

As high winds battered the site, Gump, Christine Seman and another of Corinne’s aunts helped to put the Easter baskets, teddy bears and other mementos under a tarp that was stretched over the memorial as a light rain began to fall.

Whenever the wind picked up and disturbed any of the keepsakes, Gump made sure to tuck them gently back under the tarp.

Christine Seman said the public support for the family since the early morning fire has been a blessing.

It “is overwhelming and so appreciated,” she said, adding, “We’re so thankful.”

She also said she was especially grateful for a service the South Range School District had Thursday for Corinne, who was a student there. She called the Schmidts, who were caring for Corinne, “saints.”

The last two and a half years have been rough for her family, she said, noting that a cousin of Corinne’s drowned in 2012, and Christine’s daughter died in November.

And still, through it all, she said, her niece managed to maintain her memorable smile.