NINEVEH, Ind. (AP) – Investigators say a toddler playing with a burning candle started a central Indiana apartment fire that killed the child, a younger brother and their mother.
A report released Thursday by the state fire marshal's office and local agencies into the Nov. 22 fire in the Johnson County town of Nineveh says witnesses told investigators that 18-month-old Hailey Lynn Slusher-Abbott had been playing with the candle in the home's living room before the fire started.
Authorities have said the girl and 6-month-old John Slusher-Abbott died after becoming trapped inside the burning apartment. Their mother, 27-year-old Sirena Slusher-Abbott, was able to save a 5-year-old daughter, Allie, but was badly injured and died from her wounds a few days later.
The father, Christopher Abbott, was at work when the fire started.
