Mother of twins killed in fire to face criminal charges

NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. — The mother of 3-year-old twins killed in a fire at their North Braddock home Jan. 4 will face criminal charges, District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said Friday.

Dalawna Berran-Lett, 32, will be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter and recklessly endangering her children, Zappala said.

The bodies of Berran-Lett's two boys, Kyier and Dyier Arthur, were found among the smoldering ruins of the family's home at Rebecca Avenue and 13th Street.

The boys died from smoke inhalation, burns and carbon monoxide poisoning, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office said.

Witnesses called 911 about 3:30 p.m. when they noticed flames shooting out the windows and smoke pouring from the house.

Zappala said Berran-Lett left the home for 52 minutes the afternoon of Jan. 4, looking for her 15-year-old daughter, who had apparently taken a small bag of marijuana from Berran-Lett's purse.

The twins had a history of using the stove to cook food for themselves, Zappala said. The Allegheny County Fire Marshal's Office determined that a grease fire started, and Zappala said it quickly engulfed the wood frame house.

"It took 15 minutes for the grease to ignite and 15 minutes for the house to catch fire," he said.

The boys' funeral is Saturday.

This article was written by Channel 11’s news exchange partners at TribLIVE.

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