GoFundMe For Quakertown Fire Survivors Shut Down After Scams, Harassment

QUAKERTOWN, PA — After a fundraiser for a mother and son who survived a devastating fire Christmas morning was shut down due to fake copy-cat pages and rude messages, Giacomo's Italian Market is connecting donations for the family.

Kristin and Brady King were the sole survivors of a fire in their townhouse Saturday, which police believe may have started with lights on the family's Christmas tree. Eric King, father to their children, and young sons Liam and Patrick King all died in the blaze.

A GoFundMe created by a family friend started with a goal of $20,000 to support the Kings; within a couple of days, the fundraiser had garnered national attention and $608,770 from more than 9,000 donors.

But Kristin Randazzo, the friend in question, said some responses led her to shut down the page.

"Due to people creating fake GoFundMe pages with the same picture and receiving some insensitive and extremely rude emails and comments, we have decided to stop accepting donations through GoFundMe at this time," Randazzo wrote. "I have received some tasteless emails and threats and I am no longer comfortable having this open."

However, a GoFundMe to support another family affected by the Essex Court fire is still live.

The Kings' twin townhome was connected to the home of Carol Arnhold and her son TJ. A fundraiser for the Arnholds, whose residence was rendered uninhabitable in the blaze, has collected $33,207 — triple its $10,000 goal — to aid them in bouncing back.

"Carol Arnhold is a devoted volunteer with The QCO Closet, and is a longtime resident of Quakertown," organizer Karen Hammerschmidt wrote. "Please help to support them to obtain the bare necessities by making a small donation if you can."

Randazzo has worked on setting up other avenues for donations to the Kings after shutting down the GoFundMe.

Giacomo's Italian Market at 220 N West End Blvd will accept gift cards, cash, and checks to support the family.

"A family member will be picking up donations and taking them to the family periodically," the business wrote online. "Thank you to all who have reached out."

Community members can also donate gift cards to Kristin and Brady King through a fundraiser on Give InKind.

Related: $608K Raised For Bucks County Family After Christmas House Fire

Get more Bucks County news straight to your inbox when you subscribe to Patch.