Woman faces court in attempted homicide case - Lexapro

[Guest guest]

" Masorti also said there was no proof fed the children antidepressants

before setting the fire, as authorities reported. Arrest documents say

took 10 pills of the antidepressant Lexapro and gave five pills each to her

children before pouring kerosene on a mattress in a second-floor bedroom and

lighting it. "

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/lehighton/all-b1_1arsonmar24,0,885636.story?coll\

=all-newslocallehighton-hed

March 24, 2006

From The Morning Call

Woman faces court in attempted homicide case

Lawyer argued there's no proof her children were in danger.

By

Of The Morning Call

There's no proof a Summit Hill woman's children were in danger during a fire

that police say she set to try to kill them, her lawyer argued Thursday as

he tried unsuccessfully to get attempted homicide charges dropped.

Philip M. Masorti of State College also asked a Carbon County district judge

to throw out statements Ada M. , 25, allegedly made as authorities

responded to the fire in which she said she wanted her children to die so

they wouldn't be left behind with her boyfriend after she killed herself.

There's no medical evidence drugged or restrained the children, ages 4

and 5, in the second-floor bedroom where police said she spilled fuel on a

mattress and set it on fire Feb. 21, Masorti said at a preliminary hearing.

Further, tried to put out the fire before firefighters arrived, said

Masorti, who asked District Judge Casimir Kosciolek of Lansford to disallow

any statements that prosecution witnesses attribute to . Borough

Patrolman Albert Bishline testified that told him she tried to kill

herself and the children.

After an hourlong hearing, Kosciolek ordered to face Carbon County

Court on all charges against her and refused the request to disallow her

statements.

Kosciolek reduced her bail from $50,000 cash to $5,000 cash and ordered that

she have no contact with her children if she makes bail.

In the only words she spoke in court, said the children are with her

mother.

Bishline testified he arrived at the house at 303 E. Fell St. shortly after

the fire was reported at 3:45 a.m. and saw the children standing on the

sidewalk, crying, and on the porch.

Bishline said was ''very calm'' and told him she set the fire because

she wanted to die and ''take the kids with her'' so they would not be left

with her boyfriend, Pastore, 37. Pastore was sleeping on the first

floor when the fire was started. He was not injured.

Masorti asked Bishline if he ''personally knew'' the children's whereabouts

when the fire started. Bishline said he didn't.

State Fire Marshal P. Cusatis testified the fire, which was confined

to the bedroom, was set by pouring a flammable liquid on the mattress and

lighting it. He said he found a blue plastic 5-gallon fuel container melted

to the mattress.

The mattress was burned, plastic coverings on furniture in the room were

starting to melt and the ceiling above the mattress showed signs of fire, he

said.

Masorti asked Cusatis whether told authorities she tried to smother

the flames with bedclothes, and he said she did.

Masorti also suggested Cusatis had no way to know where the children were at

the time of the fire, but Cusatis said statements from acting Police Chief

ph Fittos and Fire Chief Hoben indicated they were upstairs with

.

Masorti also said there was no proof fed the children antidepressants

before setting the fire, as authorities reported. Arrest documents say

took 10 pills of the antidepressant Lexapro and gave five pills each to her

children before pouring kerosene on a mattress in a second-floor bedroom and

lighting it.

After the testimony, Masorti said that if , who had been treated for

depression and spent a week in a mental health unit after the fire, told

police she wanted to kill the children, she could have said it for any

number of reasons, including ''a cry out for government agencies to get

involved.''

Fittos and Carbon County Detective Mauro have said told them she

poured kerosene on the mattress and ignited it with a lighter after giving

the children the pills and taking them herself.

faces two counts each of attempted homicide, arson/recklessly

endangering persons, reckless endangerment, aggravated assault causing

serious injury and endangering the welfare of children, and one count of

arson/destroying or damaging an occupied structure.

chris.parker@...

610-379-3224

Copyright © 2006, The Morning Call

[Guest guest]

" Masorti also said there was no proof fed the children antidepressants

before setting the fire, as authorities reported. Arrest documents say

took 10 pills of the antidepressant Lexapro and gave five pills each to her

children before pouring kerosene on a mattress in a second-floor bedroom and

lighting it. "

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/lehighton/all-b1_1arsonmar24,0,885636.story?coll\

=all-newslocallehighton-hed

March 24, 2006

From The Morning Call

Woman faces court in attempted homicide case

Lawyer argued there's no proof her children were in danger.

By

Of The Morning Call

There's no proof a Summit Hill woman's children were in danger during a fire

that police say she set to try to kill them, her lawyer argued Thursday as

he tried unsuccessfully to get attempted homicide charges dropped.

Philip M. Masorti of State College also asked a Carbon County district judge

to throw out statements Ada M. , 25, allegedly made as authorities

responded to the fire in which she said she wanted her children to die so

they wouldn't be left behind with her boyfriend after she killed herself.

There's no medical evidence drugged or restrained the children, ages 4

and 5, in the second-floor bedroom where police said she spilled fuel on a

mattress and set it on fire Feb. 21, Masorti said at a preliminary hearing.

Further, tried to put out the fire before firefighters arrived, said

Masorti, who asked District Judge Casimir Kosciolek of Lansford to disallow

any statements that prosecution witnesses attribute to . Borough

Patrolman Albert Bishline testified that told him she tried to kill

herself and the children.

After an hourlong hearing, Kosciolek ordered to face Carbon County

Court on all charges against her and refused the request to disallow her

statements.

Kosciolek reduced her bail from $50,000 cash to $5,000 cash and ordered that

she have no contact with her children if she makes bail.

In the only words she spoke in court, said the children are with her

mother.

Bishline testified he arrived at the house at 303 E. Fell St. shortly after

the fire was reported at 3:45 a.m. and saw the children standing on the

sidewalk, crying, and on the porch.

Bishline said was ''very calm'' and told him she set the fire because

she wanted to die and ''take the kids with her'' so they would not be left

with her boyfriend, Pastore, 37. Pastore was sleeping on the first

floor when the fire was started. He was not injured.

Masorti asked Bishline if he ''personally knew'' the children's whereabouts

when the fire started. Bishline said he didn't.

State Fire Marshal P. Cusatis testified the fire, which was confined

to the bedroom, was set by pouring a flammable liquid on the mattress and

lighting it. He said he found a blue plastic 5-gallon fuel container melted

to the mattress.

The mattress was burned, plastic coverings on furniture in the room were

starting to melt and the ceiling above the mattress showed signs of fire, he

said.

Masorti asked Cusatis whether told authorities she tried to smother

the flames with bedclothes, and he said she did.

Masorti also suggested Cusatis had no way to know where the children were at

the time of the fire, but Cusatis said statements from acting Police Chief

ph Fittos and Fire Chief Hoben indicated they were upstairs with

.

Masorti also said there was no proof fed the children antidepressants

before setting the fire, as authorities reported. Arrest documents say

took 10 pills of the antidepressant Lexapro and gave five pills each to her

children before pouring kerosene on a mattress in a second-floor bedroom and

lighting it.

After the testimony, Masorti said that if , who had been treated for

depression and spent a week in a mental health unit after the fire, told

police she wanted to kill the children, she could have said it for any

number of reasons, including ''a cry out for government agencies to get

involved.''

Fittos and Carbon County Detective Mauro have said told them she

poured kerosene on the mattress and ignited it with a lighter after giving

the children the pills and taking them herself.

faces two counts each of attempted homicide, arson/recklessly

endangering persons, reckless endangerment, aggravated assault causing

serious injury and endangering the welfare of children, and one count of

arson/destroying or damaging an occupied structure.

chris.parker@...

610-379-3224

Copyright © 2006, The Morning Call

[Guest guest]

" Masorti also said there was no proof fed the children antidepressants

before setting the fire, as authorities reported. Arrest documents say

took 10 pills of the antidepressant Lexapro and gave five pills each to her

children before pouring kerosene on a mattress in a second-floor bedroom and

lighting it. "

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/lehighton/all-b1_1arsonmar24,0,885636.story?coll\

=all-newslocallehighton-hed

March 24, 2006

From The Morning Call

Woman faces court in attempted homicide case

Lawyer argued there's no proof her children were in danger.

By

Of The Morning Call

There's no proof a Summit Hill woman's children were in danger during a fire

that police say she set to try to kill them, her lawyer argued Thursday as

he tried unsuccessfully to get attempted homicide charges dropped.

Philip M. Masorti of State College also asked a Carbon County district judge

to throw out statements Ada M. , 25, allegedly made as authorities

responded to the fire in which she said she wanted her children to die so

they wouldn't be left behind with her boyfriend after she killed herself.

There's no medical evidence drugged or restrained the children, ages 4

and 5, in the second-floor bedroom where police said she spilled fuel on a

mattress and set it on fire Feb. 21, Masorti said at a preliminary hearing.

Further, tried to put out the fire before firefighters arrived, said

Masorti, who asked District Judge Casimir Kosciolek of Lansford to disallow

any statements that prosecution witnesses attribute to . Borough

Patrolman Albert Bishline testified that told him she tried to kill

herself and the children.

After an hourlong hearing, Kosciolek ordered to face Carbon County

Court on all charges against her and refused the request to disallow her

statements.

Kosciolek reduced her bail from $50,000 cash to $5,000 cash and ordered that

she have no contact with her children if she makes bail.

In the only words she spoke in court, said the children are with her

mother.

Bishline testified he arrived at the house at 303 E. Fell St. shortly after

the fire was reported at 3:45 a.m. and saw the children standing on the

sidewalk, crying, and on the porch.

Bishline said was ''very calm'' and told him she set the fire because

she wanted to die and ''take the kids with her'' so they would not be left

with her boyfriend, Pastore, 37. Pastore was sleeping on the first

floor when the fire was started. He was not injured.

Masorti asked Bishline if he ''personally knew'' the children's whereabouts

when the fire started. Bishline said he didn't.

State Fire Marshal P. Cusatis testified the fire, which was confined

to the bedroom, was set by pouring a flammable liquid on the mattress and

lighting it. He said he found a blue plastic 5-gallon fuel container melted

to the mattress.

The mattress was burned, plastic coverings on furniture in the room were

starting to melt and the ceiling above the mattress showed signs of fire, he

said.

Masorti asked Cusatis whether told authorities she tried to smother

the flames with bedclothes, and he said she did.

Masorti also suggested Cusatis had no way to know where the children were at

the time of the fire, but Cusatis said statements from acting Police Chief

ph Fittos and Fire Chief Hoben indicated they were upstairs with

.

Masorti also said there was no proof fed the children antidepressants

before setting the fire, as authorities reported. Arrest documents say

took 10 pills of the antidepressant Lexapro and gave five pills each to her

children before pouring kerosene on a mattress in a second-floor bedroom and

lighting it.

After the testimony, Masorti said that if , who had been treated for

depression and spent a week in a mental health unit after the fire, told

police she wanted to kill the children, she could have said it for any

number of reasons, including ''a cry out for government agencies to get

involved.''

Fittos and Carbon County Detective Mauro have said told them she

poured kerosene on the mattress and ignited it with a lighter after giving

the children the pills and taking them herself.

faces two counts each of attempted homicide, arson/recklessly

endangering persons, reckless endangerment, aggravated assault causing

serious injury and endangering the welfare of children, and one count of

arson/destroying or damaging an occupied structure.

chris.parker@...

610-379-3224

Copyright © 2006, The Morning Call

[Guest guest]

" Masorti also said there was no proof fed the children antidepressants

before setting the fire, as authorities reported. Arrest documents say

took 10 pills of the antidepressant Lexapro and gave five pills each to her

children before pouring kerosene on a mattress in a second-floor bedroom and

lighting it. "

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/lehighton/all-b1_1arsonmar24,0,885636.story?coll\

=all-newslocallehighton-hed

March 24, 2006

From The Morning Call

Woman faces court in attempted homicide case

Lawyer argued there's no proof her children were in danger.

By

Of The Morning Call

There's no proof a Summit Hill woman's children were in danger during a fire

that police say she set to try to kill them, her lawyer argued Thursday as

he tried unsuccessfully to get attempted homicide charges dropped.

Philip M. Masorti of State College also asked a Carbon County district judge

to throw out statements Ada M. , 25, allegedly made as authorities

responded to the fire in which she said she wanted her children to die so

they wouldn't be left behind with her boyfriend after she killed herself.

There's no medical evidence drugged or restrained the children, ages 4

and 5, in the second-floor bedroom where police said she spilled fuel on a

mattress and set it on fire Feb. 21, Masorti said at a preliminary hearing.

Further, tried to put out the fire before firefighters arrived, said

Masorti, who asked District Judge Casimir Kosciolek of Lansford to disallow

any statements that prosecution witnesses attribute to . Borough

Patrolman Albert Bishline testified that told him she tried to kill

herself and the children.

After an hourlong hearing, Kosciolek ordered to face Carbon County

Court on all charges against her and refused the request to disallow her

statements.

Kosciolek reduced her bail from $50,000 cash to $5,000 cash and ordered that

she have no contact with her children if she makes bail.

In the only words she spoke in court, said the children are with her

mother.

Bishline testified he arrived at the house at 303 E. Fell St. shortly after

the fire was reported at 3:45 a.m. and saw the children standing on the

sidewalk, crying, and on the porch.

Bishline said was ''very calm'' and told him she set the fire because

she wanted to die and ''take the kids with her'' so they would not be left

with her boyfriend, Pastore, 37. Pastore was sleeping on the first

floor when the fire was started. He was not injured.

Masorti asked Bishline if he ''personally knew'' the children's whereabouts

when the fire started. Bishline said he didn't.

State Fire Marshal P. Cusatis testified the fire, which was confined

to the bedroom, was set by pouring a flammable liquid on the mattress and

lighting it. He said he found a blue plastic 5-gallon fuel container melted

to the mattress.

The mattress was burned, plastic coverings on furniture in the room were

starting to melt and the ceiling above the mattress showed signs of fire, he

said.

Masorti asked Cusatis whether told authorities she tried to smother

the flames with bedclothes, and he said she did.

Masorti also suggested Cusatis had no way to know where the children were at

the time of the fire, but Cusatis said statements from acting Police Chief

ph Fittos and Fire Chief Hoben indicated they were upstairs with

.

Masorti also said there was no proof fed the children antidepressants

before setting the fire, as authorities reported. Arrest documents say

took 10 pills of the antidepressant Lexapro and gave five pills each to her

children before pouring kerosene on a mattress in a second-floor bedroom and

lighting it.

After the testimony, Masorti said that if , who had been treated for

depression and spent a week in a mental health unit after the fire, told

police she wanted to kill the children, she could have said it for any

number of reasons, including ''a cry out for government agencies to get

involved.''

Fittos and Carbon County Detective Mauro have said told them she

poured kerosene on the mattress and ignited it with a lighter after giving

the children the pills and taking them herself.

faces two counts each of attempted homicide, arson/recklessly

endangering persons, reckless endangerment, aggravated assault causing

serious injury and endangering the welfare of children, and one count of

arson/destroying or damaging an occupied structure.

chris.parker@...

610-379-3224

Copyright © 2006, The Morning Call