Matthew Badger Not Mad At Stamford

STAMFORD, Conn. — Despite having a lawsuit against the city of Stamford, Matthew Badger, father of the three girls who died in the Christmas Day fire, does not hold any ill feelings towards the city.

“I am trying to find out the truth,” Badger said.

That is the reason Badger gave for the lawsuits he and Wade Johnson, administrator of the estates of Lomer and Pauline Johnson, who also died in the fire, have filed against the city. He added that the suit was his fatherly duty, despite knowing that it may give people a different perception.

He said he feels bad for the firefighters and members of the community who tried their best to help get his daughters, Lily, Sarah and Grace, out of the Shippan Point mansion, understanding many of them were traumatized, and received help in the days following the deadly blaze.“There was nothing they could do,” the New York resident said.

Badger also hopes Stamford Public Schools take advantage of the opportunities the LilySarahGraceFund can provide for children. The fund, which he started to honor his daughters, provides teachers in public schools with supplies they need to bring art and creativity to their curriculum.

Badger has also appreciated all of the support he has received from the public in the wake of the tragedy citing events such as ART N’ BLOOM in Norwalk next week, which decided to raise money for the fund, and the donations he has received from children.

“It’s very healing for me,” he said, explaining that he has heard stories of children asking for money to donate instead of gifts for birthdays and Bar Mitzvahs.

The negligence and wrongful death lawsuit Badger filed in July  as the administrator of the estates of his daughters listed the city of Stamford as well as Michael Borcina among several defendants. Borcina is the owner of Tiberias Construction, Inc., the contracting firm renovating the home at the time of the fire and boyfriend of Badger’s estranged wife, Madonna. Borcina and Madonna Badger were in the house at the time of the fire, but were able to get out. 

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