4 children die in domestic disturbance

ATLANTA — Four children died and a fifth was hospitalized after a domestic disturbance led to a house fire Friday night in Paulding County, Ga., officials confirmed.

Authorities have taken a woman into custody and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is among four agencies investigating the incident. According to Channel 2 Action News, the woman was the children’s mother.

Darlene Brister, 40, was arrested and charged with two counts of malice murder. She remained jailed without bond Saturday at the Paulding County Detention Center. The sheriff’s office indicated more charges against her are likely as the investigation continues.

Deputies were called Friday night to a domestic disturbance at a home in Rockmart. Paulding County sheriff’s office spokesman Tyler McSwain said the house was on fire and someone told 911 dispatchers a woman was inside the home trying to stab the other occupants.

Deputies entered the burning home to rescue the occupants and found seven children inside.

Firefighters were dispatched, but two children in the home died at the scene, Paulding County Fire-Rescue spokesman Lt. Steve Mapes said. It was not immediately clear if they died as a result of the fire or were stabbed to death.

Three other children were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, according to a press release. Two of them had burn wounds and the third child sustained a non-life-threatening leg injury, Mapes indicated.

One of the children rushed to the hospital later died from their injuries, McSwain said. By Sunday, the fourth child had died, Channel 2 reported.

McSwain said the two other children were unharmed. Officials did not immediately release the victims’ names or ages Saturday, but noted that all five victims are children.