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Ten years ago today, Girard firefighters responded to a blaze at the Dearborn Street home Lena Cross, 22, shared with her two children.
They discovered all three had perished in an arson, but it was later learned Cross had been stabbed multiple times on the first floor of the home and the fire was deliberately set to cover up the crime. Her sons, Mason Cross, 5, and Christian Pizzulo, 1, who were asleep upstairs, died from smoke inhalation.
No one has been arrested for the crimes.
Karen Booth, Cross’s mother, said she fears the case has been put on “the back burner.”
Girard police Chief Jeffrey Palmer said the leads investigators gathered have “dried up” and the investigation is at “a bit of a standstill.”
“We are still following up on any new leads that come in and could use information from the public,” Palmer said.
Palmer said the investigation led to several persons of interest, but “none of the evidence put together could be corroborated.”
Cindy Michael is the grandmother of Christian, and said she treated Mason like a grandson. She said she last spoke to Girard police Capt. John Norman about the case a few months ago. She said he told her he would like to solve the case before he retires. Attempts to reach Norman for comment were unsuccessful.
“I suspect people know more than what they are saying,” Michael said. “I remain hopeful that someone is going to come forward. I think keeping it it out in the forefront will encourage movement. You have to keep hope.”
Booth said after the fire, she salvaged as many pictures as she could and the family’s dream catchers.
Cross loved to take the kids hiking and camping, and their favorite place was Nelson Ledges Quarry Park, Booth said. The family was always doing something, from bonfires and picnics to movie nights, she said.
Now, Booth said, she and Cross’s brother, Douglas Cross, 28, often go to their family’s graves at Niles Union Cemetery. She said Cross was a great mother and her kids always came first. She was outspoken and never took any “crap” from anyone, Booth said.
“We had spats like mother and daughter do,” Booth said. “But I was over at her house or she was over at my house everyday.”
Christian’s father, Joe Pizzulo, said the police department has done their best, “but there has been a lack of cooperation of those involved.”
Pizzulo said in order to find any peace in his life, he puts his faith in God to judge whoever robbed the world of “two wonderful children and a wonderful woman.”
“I don’t harbor any ill feelings anymore, I came to peace,” Pizzulo said. “They are in a better place. We are the ones left to suffer.”
Michael said what has happened to her grandson has encouraged her to reach out to other victims.
“When you are a victim of crime and there are other murders, it hits home,” Michael said. “Your heart just drops for the family because you know what they are going through.”
From the ruins of Cross’s home, Michael discovered the Spider-Man book bag Mason was to use for kindergarten.
“He never got on the bus,” Michael said.
She decided to start a book bag and school supply giveaway to honor the children. Every August, local children are invited to a free picnic for the event. They raise money during the year with spaghetti dinners and raffle tickets to fund Kids Free Fun Day. And throughout the year, Michael tries to do things for children affected by violent crime with any leftover money. Michael said it helps her to see the smiling faces of children at the events.
Booth said she would like the Girard Police Department to give the television show “Cold Justice” permission to start investigating the case.
Palmer said he has not been contacted by “Cold Justice” and did not comment on whether his department would be open to inviting their investigators to look at the case.
Booth said she is starting to get her life back together, but she wants to see the case solved.
“I will never forget,” she said.
“God knows who did it,” Pizzulo said. “They may be able to hide from us and the law, but they can’t hide from the Lord.”