http://www.democratandchronicle.com...hol-the-night-her-boys-died-in-fire/92823684/
Heather M. Ace, 25, entered a plea of not guilty Monday in Batavia Town Court to two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, following a fire that broke out at a State Street Road home in May. Micah and Michael Gard, both 2, died from smoke inhalation.
Ace allegedly told investigators from the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office six days after the fire that she had left the home for roughly 75 minutes after putting the twins to bed and locking a door, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the Democrat and Chronicle.
The lock was added after the boys were found wandering outside the home late one night, according to the documents.
In a three-page statement, Ace told investigators that she put the boys to bed about 8:30 p.m. and gave them a bottle of milk. Michael had a tall green bottle. Micah was wearing a Superman shirt, according to the papers.
Ace and the children lived on the first floor of a house next door to her parents. She dropped her older child off at her parents' house before checking on the twins, according to her statement.
"I went into their bedroom and they were both asleep," according to the statement. "I did not smell any smoke, see any flames or hear anything weird at that time. I then latched the small hook on the kitchen side of their bedroom door."
She then told investigators that she visited a nearby home to purchase "$10 worth of weed (marijuana)," and later went to a convenience store to purchase a Four Loko, an alcoholic beverage, two bottles of water and a pack of gum.
Ace went to friend Ashli Zajaczkowki's house, where she ignored a call from her mother shortly before 10 p.m., according to the papers.
"I then sent her a text which stated answer your f------- phone," according to a statement by her mother, Tracy Ace, to investigators. "I told Heather the house is on fire and I heard a lot of screaming and I heard the phone drop."
"Heather started screaming hysterically," Zajaczkowki said. "I asked her what was going on and she said she had to get home. Heather then said there is a fire. Heather said that her babies were there sleeping."
She said Heather Ace jumped out of the car before it stopped near the house.
"I freaked out ... when I arrived at my house there were firemen and police on scene and they kept me from going into the house," Heather Ace allegedly told investigators. "I had to be taken to the hospital because of my state at that time."
Ace allegedly told investigators from the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office six days after the fire that she had left the home for roughly 75 minutes after putting the twins to bed and locking a door, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the Democrat and Chronicle.
The lock was added after the boys were found wandering outside the home late one night, according to the documents.
In a three-page statement, Ace told investigators that she put the boys to bed about 8:30 p.m. and gave them a bottle of milk. Michael had a tall green bottle. Micah was wearing a Superman shirt, according to the papers.
Ace and the children lived on the first floor of a house next door to her parents. She dropped her older child off at her parents' house before checking on the twins, according to her statement.
"I went into their bedroom and they were both asleep," according to the statement. "I did not smell any smoke, see any flames or hear anything weird at that time. I then latched the small hook on the kitchen side of their bedroom door."
She then told investigators that she visited a nearby home to purchase "$10 worth of weed (marijuana)," and later went to a convenience store to purchase a Four Loko, an alcoholic beverage, two bottles of water and a pack of gum.
Ace went to friend Ashli Zajaczkowki's house, where she ignored a call from her mother shortly before 10 p.m., according to the papers.
"I then sent her a text which stated answer your f------- phone," according to a statement by her mother, Tracy Ace, to investigators. "I told Heather the house is on fire and I heard a lot of screaming and I heard the phone drop."
"Heather started screaming hysterically," Zajaczkowki said. "I asked her what was going on and she said she had to get home. Heather then said there is a fire. Heather said that her babies were there sleeping."
She said Heather Ace jumped out of the car before it stopped near the house.
"I freaked out ... when I arrived at my house there were firemen and police on scene and they kept me from going into the house," Heather Ace allegedly told investigators. "I had to be taken to the hospital because of my state at that time."
http://www.twcnews.com/nys/rocheste...-ace-pleads-guilty-to-child-endangerment.html
BATAVIA, N.Y. -- Heather Ace, the woman whose twin boys died in a May 2016 house fire after she left them home alone, pleaded guilty to one count of endangering the welfare of a child in Batavia Town Court.
The plea deal comes almost 10 months after the death of her twins, Micah and Michael Gard.
(...)
The Genesee County Sheriff's Office says the fire started in the the bedroom of the two boys. Fire officials were never able to determine the exact cause, but ruled out an electrical issue.
The burned-out home was since demolished, and a neighbor has said that two trees have been planted on the property in memory of the boys.
Ace could face anywhere from a $1,000 fine to up to a year in jail at her May 22 sentencing.
The plea deal comes almost 10 months after the death of her twins, Micah and Michael Gard.
(...)
The Genesee County Sheriff's Office says the fire started in the the bedroom of the two boys. Fire officials were never able to determine the exact cause, but ruled out an electrical issue.
The burned-out home was since demolished, and a neighbor has said that two trees have been planted on the property in memory of the boys.
Ace could face anywhere from a $1,000 fine to up to a year in jail at her May 22 sentencing.
One year for those two little boys. What a travesty.
