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Mother of three one of two people killed in Franklin apartment fire

Posted at 7:29 PM, Aug 04, 2013
and last updated 2013-08-05 07:09:41-04

Franklin, Va. - Two people were killed in a fire at an apartment in Franklin Sunday.

Firefighters were called out to the apartment on Dorchester Street around 3:30 a.m.

Although it only took crews a couple of minutes to get the fire under control, it was too late for the two people inside.  One of them was a mother of three.

Her one-year-old twins who usually stay with her were not home at the time, though.  They were staying with their aunt, Keisha Hill.

Police have not confirmed who died, but Hill tells NewsChannel 3 it was Valtonia Shaw and her boyfriend Delonte Whitfield.

Hill says she'll make sure the twin girls know about their mom.

“She was real bubbly, always happy.  Despite life, she did not let it get her down.  She was just an overall good person,” said Hill.

Hill also tells NewsChannel 3 that fire investigators told her the fire started from a pot left on the stove when the couple went to sleep.