Apr 28, 2008 7:50 am US/Eastern
Babies Home Alone During Fire, Mom Arrested
WEBSTER (WBZ) ―
Three small children were found home alone in Webster, when their apartment caught fire. Now, their 28-year-old mother is behind bars and facing charges.
The oldest child was 3 years old. Authorities say he was home alone with his 2-month-old twin siblings for at least an hour.
The fire was discovered by the landlady living upstairs, who saw the smoke and called 911. "I smell smoke downstairs," she told the dispatcher. "I can hear some babies crying."
Fire investigators say food was left cooking on the stove.
The children's mother, Christina Page, returned home while firefighters were still on the scene.
Page appeared in Dudley District Court on Monday to face charges. She was ordered held without bail after a judge ruled her mentally fit to stand trial.
Page's father, Edward Page, told the court she was hospitalized for a suicide attempt within the past couple of years.
The children were all treated for smoke inhalation at UMass Memorial Medical Center, where Page worked until last week when she failed to show up.
All three children have been placed in the custody of the Department of Social Services.
Page also has a 10-year-old son who lives with her mother in Florida.
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