Infant Dies In Hilltop Fire

The coroner's office has identified the month-old baby girl who perished in a weekend house fire in Columbus' Hilltop neighborhood. A makeshift memorial has appeared in front of the west Columbus home where Catherine Neese was killed Sunday afternoon. Fire officials said they were hampered by fire and heavy smoke in trying to get to the baby in a bedroom on the second floor of the house. Her 38-year-old father, Darrell Neese, was burned on his face and arms as he tried to fight through the fire to reach the child. Neighbors used a ladder to try to get to the baby, but they also were unsuccessful. The child's mother was downstairs preparing a bottle when she became aware of the fire. The cause is still being investigated.