Mom who grabbed son from Baltimore riots loses apartment in fire

Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Toya Graham
Toya Graham
images

BALTIMORE -- Toya Graham made headlines last year for grabbing her son away from the Baltimore riots. Now, this mom has lost her home.

Graham's apartment burned down Saturday afternoon after her son Michael, the same son she reprimanded during the riots, was frying chicken tenders in the kitchen.

He stepped away to use the bathroom and when he came back, the fire had ignited.

"Am I angry, upset with my son, yes. But he's alive. At the end of the day, I want him to know that I'm glad that it wasn't worse," Toya Graham said.

"I came back and it was smoking. So, I tried to come over here and take the pot. But then it started bursting out in flames. So, my first instinct was just to grab some water and try to put it out," Michael said.

Water made the grease fire worse.

Toya Graham doesn't have renters insurance.

She set up a GoFundMe page and has raised more than $14,000.