Mother In Fairfield Fire Deaths Now Charged With Murder

FAIRFIELD, Calif. (CBS13) -- One of the mothers arrested for the deaths of four children during an apartment fire is now facing murder charges.

Shetarra James, 24, is now facing four counts of second degree murder for the deaths of 4-year-old Robert Christopher Charles, Jr.; 2-year-old Nevaeh Nunn; 2-year-old Natalie Rogers and 1-year-old Keviana Morgan when fire broke out in her apartment on April 28, 2010.

Her sister and roommate, 23-year-old Latisha James, was also charged with involuntary manslaughter after the two women allegedly left the children inside their apartment for at least a half an hour before the fire broke out.

Three of the children were still strapped into strollers.

The Solano County prosecutor asked for murder charges to be filed against both suspects Wednesday, but the judge only agreed to allow the upgraded charges to be filed against Shetarra.

Investigators testified that Shetarra lied several times in interviews and finally admitted to leaving the children inside the apartment with burning candles.

When Latisha asked her sister if she blew out the candles, Shetarra said yes, authorities said. A lit candle was knocked over while the James sisters were away and the children died from thermal injuries and smoke inhalation.

The judge's ruling indicates that Latisha's alleged crimes don't rise to level of murder.

Both women will be back in court Friday.