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Mom Charged With Child Endangerment After Unattended Daughter, 6, Fatally Burned

Ruthie Lee Bell
Ruthie Lee Bell
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita woman whose young daughter was fatally burned in a fire while home alone with her sisters has been charged with child endangerment.

A judge set bail Tuesday for Ruthie Lee Bell at $100,000. Her next court date is Aug. 6.

Investigators say Bell left three daughters — ages 4, 6 and 7 — home alone on July 11. The 6-year-old, Jakara Dickson, set her clothes on fire while playing with a lighter and died three days later from her burns.

The other girls were treated for smoke inhalation.

Bell’s lawyer, Pat Mitchell, said after Tuesday’s brief court appearance that the death was a “horrible accident” that left Bell devastated.

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