Kansas mother to stand trial for fatal fire

(AP) — A Wichita woman who was away from home when her daughter suffered fatal burns in a fire has been ordered to stand trial on child endangerment charges.

27-year-old Ruthie Lee Bell pleaded not guilty to the charges Thursday in Sedgwick County District Court. Judge Ben Burgess set a tentative trial date of Dec. 2.

Bell’s 6-year-old daughter, Ja’Kara Dickson, died July 14, three days after the fire.

The girl was playing with a lighter when she accidentally set her clothes on fire. Prosecutors said Bell had left Ja’Kara and two other daughters, ages 4 and 7, alone in the house.

Neighbors heard a smoke alarm and helped pull the other two girls to safety.