Gwinnett County fire officials acknowledged Saturday that the man who survived the fire that killed his wife and daughters earlier this month has "inconsistencies" in his story — but added that those inconsistencies "are not an indication of culpability."
The statement comes two days after investigators returned to the Tucker-area home where Kathy Patterson and her daughters, 9 and 12, were killed on Feb. 9, and one day after Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter publicly raised questions about the origin of the fire.
Brent Patterson, the husband and father who escaped the blaze unharmed, has not been charged and a preliminary investigation found no signs of foul play. But he finds himself at the center of controversy nonetheless.
“Investigators say that there are inconsistencies in the information provided by the lone survivor as to what took place during the fire,” fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge said in Saturday’s emailed statement. “The inconsistencies are not an indication of culpability, but rather complicate the progress of the investigation.”
The full investigation could take “several weeks,” Rutledge said.
Firefighters responded to the Pattersons’ Pointer Ridge home shortly after 9 p.m. on the day of the fire, and “intense,” “wind-driven” flames prohibited crews from entering the home. Brent Patterson reportedly told authorities that his wife and children were upstairs getting ready for bed when he heard a popping sound and went downstairs to investigate.
He found the fire, “hollered up” to the girls and fled the home, Rutledge said at the time.
"I couldn't get back in," Patterson told media members the next day, adding that he opened the front and back doors and smashed out windows. "There was nothing I could do."
No official cause was determined — and still hasn’t been — but fire officials said initially that the blaze appeared to have started in the area of an electric-powered reclining couch. The preliminary investigation revealed no signs of foul play.
But Porter fanned the flames Friday by deeming Brent Patterson's statements about the fire "inconsistent." The district attorney said Patterson has not been "targeted," "accused" or charged, and admitted there were no "obvious signs of arson."
He made it clear, however, that his office is still investigating.
“We do want to know what the origin of the fire is,” Porter said.
The Gwinnett County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the deaths of Kathy, Kayla and Madelyn Patterson accidental, saying they died of smoke and soot inhalation. The results of toxicology testing could take up to 10 weeks to be finalized.
“Fire investigators are now awaiting results of toxicology reports and are trying to match what they see in the home to the information being provided by the only survivor of the fire,” Rutledge said. “Results from the [engineering and crime labs] as well as the medical examiner’s office are necessary before the case can be resolved.”
The home is scheduled to be demolished next week.
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