Jury finds Calif. mother guilty in apartment fire death of four children

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Shetarra James, in court

(Credit: CBS Sacramento )

(CBS/AP) FAIRFIELD, Calif. -- A jury has found a California mother guilty of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment in the deaths of her four children who died in an apartment fire.

Shetarra James was not found guilty of the more serious charges of second-degree murder.

CBS Sacramento reports that James and her sister, Latisha James, were arrested last year after police accused them of leaving four children alone in an apartment. Supposedly, the electricity was out in the apartment because the gas bill had not been paid, so there were lit candles inside, leading to the fire.

Three of the children were strapped into their strollers at the time, and all four children died in the blaze. Authorities said the two sisters had left the children alone for a half hour before the fire began.

Prosecutors dismissed manslaughter and child abuse charges for Latisha James, but they may decide to file again at a later date.

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by diamruby November 21, 2011 11:50 PM EST: Normal mothers do not leave their children alone, strapped in strollers, no heat, probably no food. They are not mothers, they are in-human, welfare breeders. Free birth control, mandatory & free sterilization is the answer to this very large problem. Children are the product of unprotected sex. Stop the suffering of children before it begins. The religious cults are against any thing that prevents them from sucking more people into their clubs. Their lust for power, money & control has caused all the wars & terror since the beginning of time.; Reply to this comment


by ahendryx819 November 21, 2011 10:09 AM EST: ********. They got off easy. They should both be sterilized now.; Reply to this comment


by wlhoppers November 20, 2011 11:55 PM EST: So she's been found guilty - now what? There's no mention of what sentence she faces. And why didn't they file the charges of child abuse along with the manslaughter charges? If they do decide to press those charges at a later date the taxpayers will be stuck with the bill for a trial that could have already been wrapped up.

How much you want to bet this "mother" gets a slap on the hand instead of jail time?; Reply to this comment


by formerusmcsgt1 November 20, 2011 7:59 PM EST: Good.

They need to do the same with parents who take their kids to the beach or a lake and won't buy a $20 life preserver and the kid drowns.; Reply to this comment


by ellensmithee November 20, 2011 7:17 PM EST: This is why abortion should be free and coupons handed out on street corners.
Keep abortion legal, people. Because everyone who has sex isn't fit for parenthood. That's why.; Reply to this comment


by -grump- November 19, 2011 2:55 PM EST: Four children, alone in an apartment with candles burning. Sounds like the nitwit was trying to kill them.; Reply to this comment

by cosmic-teapot November 19, 2011 1:55 AM EST

Can anybody tell me which is the mother in the pic? I thought I knew but one of them looks as shocked as he** and the other one looks like she couldn't give a damn!

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by linfinster November 19, 2011 12:54 PM EST: really?! You can't tell by the pic which one it is? Hmm here's a clue, they provide a full head shot and she is in the center of the picture ...

by Imthaid2 November 18, 2011 7:49 PM EST

I have absolutely NO CLUE what anti-abortion activists are thinking.

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by linfinster November 19, 2011 12:57 PM EST: Well, let me be the one to help you in your life of such pathetic clueless-ness, life begins at conception. And that's just the start! Pun intended.