Mom whose kids died in fire bound over on drug charges

Metro Atlanta

Neibi Brito clasped her hands in her lap as she appeared before a magistrate judge for a probable cause hearing Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011 in magistrate court.

Investigators said the children -- Isaac Guevara, 4, Ivan Guevara, 3, and 18-month-old Stacy Brito -- suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation. They died despite bystanders' attempts to rescue them from the second story of the burning house.

Police are still looking for Ivan Gonzalez, 26, a resident of the Lilburn home. He fled the scene and is charged with murder in connection with the deaths of the three children.

Gwinnett County Assistant D.A., Lisa Jones swears in a Gwinnett Police officer who was on the witness stand (not pictured) during Thursday's court hearing.

A Gwinnett County magistrate determined Thursday that police had enough evidence to support drug trafficking charges against Brito. Police are still looking for Ivan Gonzalez, 26, a resident of the Lilburn home. He fled the scene and is charged with murder in connection with the deaths of the three children.

Brito was scheduled for the hearing on Wednesday but the hearing was reset for 8:30 a.m. Thursday so Brito, 22, could attend the funeral for her children. Her children died in a fire at a Lilburn home where methamphetamine was being manufactured, authorities charge.

Brito was wearing a green jail jumpsuit and her hands were clasped in front of her and she kept her gaze down during the brief session. A police investigator said 4,555 grams of liquid meth was found inside the house in the 1100 block of Spring Mill Drive. Some of the meth was in a utility closet and the rest was in a cooler in the garage. The fire started in the utility closet, spread down the hallway and into the kitchen, police said.

Magistrate George F. Hutchinson III forwarded the charges against Neibi Brito, 22, to Gwinnett Superior Court. She has no bond and remains in jail.

Cheif magistrate judge George Hutchinson III presided on the bench as Neibi Brito appeared for a probable cause hearing Thursday, Feb. 24, 201. He determined that police had enough evidence to support drug trafficking charges against Brito.

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Neibi Brito clasped her hands in her lap as she appeared before a magistrate judge for a probable cause hearing Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011 in magistrate court.

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