Family of toddler who died in Greensboro fire remember him on his fifth birthday

GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — Two toddlers named Cash Whitaker and Landon Dennis lost their lives in a house fire on Glenside Drive in Greensboro in March 2023.

Saturday would have been Cash Whitaker’s fifth birthday. On Monday night, family members gathered to remember and celebrate him.

It’s the first time his mother’s side of the family has publicly gathered.

Cash’s mother Noelle Cervantes remains in the Guilford County jail. She’s charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of child abuse inflicting serious injury.

The owner of the house and Landon’s father Michael Dennis is charged with two counts of felony child abuse.

Monday night was about remembering Cash.

“He took a piece of everyone,” said his aunt Amber Richardson.

Cash Whitaker was just three years old when he died in the fire, and his aunt Amber wants to remember him as the wild child she knew.

“He was fun … You couldn’t put nothing past him … He gave you fun chaos,” she said.

Cash and then two-year-old Landon were best friends and loved playing together.

“He was the glue of the family. We have so many kids in the family but since we lost him, it’s … different,” Amber said.

Those connected to the Cervantes family celebrated his short life Monday night and said “Happy birthday” to him. Cash loved motorcycles so much that when his step-grandfather David Farmer wanted to get the family together, he called Bikers With Big Hearts to join.

“I miss him very much,” said Miguel, one of Cash’s brothers.

“He used to say he always loved everybody,” said his other brother, David.

Miguel and David rode motorcycles for the first time and said they hope there are motorcycles in heaven. Several of his family members wear Cash’s ashes every day.

“There is always something there to remind you,” David said.

They also said they had placed some mementos on his gravesite that were taken, and they wanted to ask that people do not disturb the area where the two boys are buried.

Cervantes remains in jail on a $1 million bond. Dennis has a court appearance in June.

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