Community rallies behind police officer, family after devastating fire

LOWER POTTSGROVE, Pa. (WPVI) -- An entire community is banding together to support a police detective and his family who lost everything when their neighbor allegedly set a fire at their home.

Friday night was the annual Pottgrove Middle School Winter Wonderland PTA Dance.

Ordinarily, Limerick Police Detective Ernie Morris would be one of the chaperones - but this dance was different.

A good portion of the money being raised from the event is being donated to Det. Morris and his family after their devastating loss.

Morris, his wife Christine, and two daughters Katy and Carly were away on vacation at Disneyworld in Florida last week.

"That's where I go to be safe and get the time I get to spend with them and now that's been taken away," said Det. Morris.

The family were in their hotel when they got word that their house was destroyed by a fire.

"You're standing in a hotel room. I think I just sat there crying, 'What do we do? What do we do?," said Christine Morris.

Authorities say surveillance footage showed that their neighbor Donna Krupp had broken into their home and used a long, extended grill lighter to light Christmas ornaments on fire. The flames later spread through the house.

The motive, investigators say, is that Krupp believed that Det. Morris was responsible for the ongoing incarceration of her son.

In the wake of it all, the community came together to support the Morris family.

"The outpouring of the community has been overwhelming. They've been helping us financially and emotionally," said Det. Morris.

"I've said it a million times and I'll keep saying it. She affected so many people and they all rallied around us immediately," said Christine.

"We come together. We help each other out - whatever is needed. We got word of the fire and I'd say within a couple hours, the plan was made," said Marisa Neeson, PTA president.

Overall, they expect to raise $1,500 for the family.

"This is a really big group of loving and caring people and especially my brothers and sisters in blue and I see now there is a really small portion of bad people out there," said Det. Morris.