Missouri Mom Sues Landlord Over Fire That Killed 3 Kids

A Springfield, Mo., woman is suing her former landlord over a fire that killed her three children.

The Springfield News-Leader reports that Violet Watson is asking in excess of $25,000 in damages in the suit filed this month in Green County.

The March 2010 fire killed 7-year-old Alexis Watson, 5-year-old Kelsey Watson and 4-year-old Devin Watson. The children’s grandfather was seriously injured.

Initially, Violet Watson’s then-fiance was charged with setting the fire. But the charge was dropped after laboratory tests found no trace of an accelerant. The cause of the fire is listed as undetermined.

The lawsuit says the landlords failed to maintain a safe property for the home’s residents. The suit says there were smoke alarm issues and that the house had “faulty wiring.”