Blackwood's mortgage lender, LaSalle Bank, persuaded Superior Court Judge Earl Richards to order a foreclosure on 601 Colorado Ave., the house Blackwood called home for the past six years.

Richards set April 16 as the date for a foreclosure sale. Blackwood, who received notice of the bank's pending action around Christmas, did not respond to it, according to court documents. Nor did he make an appearance before the judge.

There was no legal wrangling between attorneys. Blackwood didn't have one. The entire affair was over in a matter of minutes.

Blackwood could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Under Connecticut law, Blackwood has until March 14 to appeal the judge's order.

Meanwhile, his heavily damaged property is being treated as an active crime scene. Neither the Bridgeport Fire Marshal's Office nor the Bridgeport Arson Squad returned repeated calls for comment.

Blackwood bought the multi-family house for $48,000 on Feb. 11, 1999, from Robert and Stephanie DeRoschers. His initial mortgage with his primary lender, Pinnfund USA, of Carlsbad, Calif., was for $36,000; a second one, issued in January 2001, was for $64,000 with Home Loan and Investment Bank.

Blackwood had plans to renovate the house and rent out several apartments. His daughter, Tanechia Blackwood, occupied one of them with her son Elijah Boyd and later her infant son, Dwayne Dennis Jr., born only four months ago. The three died in the blaze on Friday. Robert Blackwood wasn't home.

The year 2001 started out well for Blackwood. He was making his mortgage payments and paying his bills. By December 2001, he had lost his job. He filed for unemployment but didn't get it. His employer challenged his claim and by August 2002 won. A Superior Court judge eventually dismissed Blackwood's case.

From that point forward, Blackwood's Bridgeport tax payments on the house fell behind. Since his 2001 taxes were due [in 2002] he has consistently been late, a city tax official said after reviewing the office's file on 601 Colorado Ave. It looks like he waits until he gets his tax refund in March to pay.

In fact, none of the 2004 property taxes on the house, which stands at $4,389.27 with interest and late fees, has been paid.

Despite his financial difficulties in recent years, Blackwood succeeded in refinancing the Colorado Avenue home two more times, for a total of four mortgages in six years each time for well more than the previous loan.

Blackwood's fourth bank, Option One Mortgage Corp. of California, agreed to loan him $120,000 in May 2004 over 30 years with an adjustable rate that ranged from 8.75-to 14.75-percent. Option One Mortgage Corp. assigned that note to LaSalle Bank.

According to court records, the unpaid balance on the loan to LaSalle Bank is $119,720.81. According to its court papers, the bank sought $129,000, including court costs and attorneys fees from Blackwell.

Meanwhile, the family of Taniecha Blackwood, Elijah Boyd and Dwayne Dennis Jr. is planning services.

A homecoming celebration for the three is scheduled for 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the Apostolic Worship Center at 540 E. Washington Ave., with the Rev. Oswald Ellis officiating.

Burial will take place at noon Saturday in Mountain Grove Cemetery on North Avenue.

MariAn Gail Brown, who covers regional issues, can be reached at 330-6288.