A Tucker woman’s blood alcohol content was .242 — more than three times the legal limit for those driving — the night she died in a house fire with her two daughters, the Gwinnett County Medical Examiner’s Office said Tuesday. But the cause of the deadly fire has still not been determined.
Kathy Patterson, 36, and daughters, Madelyn, 9, and Kayla, who turned 12 in January, died Feb. 9 when flames ripped through the family’s home on Pointer Ridge. Patterson’s husband, Brent, made it out of the house, but said he was unable to return for his wife and daughters.
The day after the fire, Patterson told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution he was the only one downstairs when he heard an odd noise and went to check it out.
“When I opened the front door, the house exploded,” Patterson said.
Patterson said he yelled for his family to get out of the house, but the flames were too intense for him to reach them.
“I hope to God they were asleep,” Patterson told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I don’t know. I have to hope.”
Inconsistencies in Patterson's accounts of the fire prompted an in-depth investigation involving the Gwinnett fire department, District Attorney and Medical Examiner. Following autopsies and extensive toxicology testing, the ME's Office ruled all three deaths accidental.
By late Tuesday, the fire department had not yet completed its investigation. DA Danny Porter said his decision whether to file criminal charges will not be based solely on the ME’s report.
The home was torn down Tuesday morning, Channel 2 Action News reported.
— Staff writer Steve Burns contributed to this report.
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