Investigators Looked For Signs of Arson, Meds at Tucker Fire Home

TUCKER, GA -- Investigators who returned to the scene of a fire that killed a woman and her two daughters in Tucker were looking for signs of arson, as well as any medications the victims may have been taking, according to a search warrant.

The search warrant affidavit, obtained Monday by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, raises new questions about the fire, and the story of its lone survivor, husband and father Brent Patterson.

Patterson escaped the February 9 blaze in the 1000 block of Pointer Ridge that killed his wife, Kathy, and daughters Kayla, 12, and Madelyn, 9.

Since then, authorities including the Gwinnett County fire department and the county district attorney's office have said there have been "inconsistencies" in Patterson's story about what happened on the night of February 9.

The search warrant affidavit confirms as much.

“The conflicting statements given by Mr. Patterson could not explain the fire behavior, fire patterns, or the speed of the fire spread,” the affidavit states.

Investigators looked for flammable liquids or other accelerants that could have been used to start a fire, evidence of any medications the victims may have been taking and "signs of financial distress," according to the AJC report.

According to initial reports of the Tucker fire, Patterson told investigators the family was upstairs getting ready to go to bed when they heard popping sounds from downstairs.

Patterson told investigators he went downstairs to investigate and found the house’s lower level on fire. He said he yelled for the rest of the family to get out of the house, then exited the home himself.

When he realized they hadn’t escaped, Patterson said, he tried to go back in and help them, but couldn’t because of heat and smoke from the fire.

Fire department investigators have now been joined by agents from the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s office and Gwinnett County Police Department, among others.

A news release from the fire department last week said they also were awaiting toxicology reports as part of their investigation.