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Investigators: Mother Of 3 Wasn't In Home When Fatal Fire Started

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Fire investigators said Monday they believe the mother of three children killed in a north Minneapolis fire was not home when it started.

The fire that claimed the lives of 6-year-old Latorious, 5-year-old Latoria and 23-month-old Latorianna has been ruled accidental. Investigators say their mother, Taneshia Stewart, showed no signs of having been inside the burning home.

WCCO's Reg Chapman talked with investigators on Monday.

From the beginning, Taneshia Stewart claimed she was inside the home with her three children when fire erupted. She says she did everything in her power to save them.

Monday night, fire investigators say they do not believe she is telling the truth.

Taneshia Stewart said she tried her best to rescue her three children from the burning home they'd lived in for less than 24 hours.

"I was inside," she said.

She told our cameras as well as investigators she was there with them when fire invaded the home.

"At this point and time we believe the version of the story that we've been given is inaccurate," Minneapolis Police and Fire Investigator Sgt. Sean McKenna said.

McKenna says his team knew that day Stewart could not have been inside with her children.

"When someone is being interviewed at the scene by the fire investigator and does not smell of smoke, is not coughing, is not showing any signs of smoke inhalation and does not appear impaired by smoke, that would render the story we've been given somewhat useless," McKenna said.

McKenna says anonymous tips and information put on social media puts the mother at a local bar before fire was reported.

"Our investigator reported upon interviewing the parent that there was a smell of an intoxicating beverage," McKenna said.

Investigators believe if Stewart was home, this fire would have had a different outcome.

"I believe if there had been a competent adult inside the home that everyone would have been able to evacuate safely," Sgt. McKenna said. "We do not believe there was a competent adult inside the home at the time the fire was reported."

"We're not attempting to blame anyone, we know the fire was an accident. The fire resulted from using the oven as a heating device. There is nothing illegal about that, it's certainly not safe," Sgt. McKenna said.

Latorianna was just about to turn 2 years old when the fire happened.

Firefighters came together to help the victims' family over the weekend during their annual chili cook-off. Originally, the money raised was going to go to various charities, but the Minneapolis Fire department decided to raise money to help the family with funeral expenses.

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