Careless Smoking Suspected In Fatal Fire

Authorities say careless smoking is the likely cause of a fire that left a woman dead in Battle Creek last week.

Lt. Quincy Jones on Monday reported investigators' findings from Thursday's fire. Jones says crews responded to the fire at around 5:15 Thursday morning at a house that 66-year-old Leon Taylor shared with his mother, 87-year-old Bernice Taylor.

Bernice Taylor died at the scene, while Leon Taylor was treated for burns at Bronson Battle Creek hospital and released. He died Saturday, and Jones says an autopsy is incomplete.

Jones says that two other people escaped the house without injury.

-AP