Aunt Connected to Fire Death in Court

Public outcry continues for charges to be filed in the house fire that left a 3 year old dead. He and his little brother had been left in their South Memphis home alone by their mother. While investigators continue to piece the case together, police arrested the aunt of the boys' mother on unrelated charges.

Two days after Marilyn Wilson talked to news reporters about her niece's decision to leave her toddler sons in a home alone, she appeared in court to face Judge Louis Montesi, Jr.

Monday, moments after the fire, Wilson told reporters, "I don't know why she didn't take them, swear I don't, I don't know."

Judge Montesi asked Wilson, "Where were you when you were picked up on these warrants?"

The charges were unrelated to the Monday house fire on Effie, that left a three year old boy dead, and his 2 year old brother hospitalized at LeBonheur Children's Hospital. Instead, Wilson was taken into custody for charges dating back to 2006.

According to police records, on April 15 2006, Wilson was spotted filling her purse with clothing at a K-Mart store on Austin Peay in Raleigh. She was charged with theft of property.

Relative Chiquita Franklin says, "we've been trying to get her some help."

Four days later, Wilson was pulled over at Pauline and Jefferson for driving with expired tags. Officers ran her license and found it was suspended for failure to pay child support. When officers interviewed her in connection with Monday's house fire, she was arrested on the 2006 bench warrant.

"She's not in her right state of mind," says Franklin.

Family members say they're embarrassed by Wilson's comments moments after arriving on the scene of the fire.

Wilson said "I really need to get in there to see did my purse burn up, because I had my food stamp card and everything in there."

Relatives say they have tried to get Wilson help but with no luck.

But some Mid-Southerners say the focus shouldn't be on Wilson, but on the mother who left her sons home alone.

Harold Collins with the Shelby County District Attorney's Office, says "we understand how emotional this is but we cannot allow our emotions to determine what kind of action we have to make."

Investigators will sift through those details and as soon as all the information is gathered from Memphis Police, the Memphis Fire Department, and the Shelby County Medical Examiner, the district attorney will determine who, if anyone, to charge. For now, Aunt Marilyn will remain behind bars.

Wilson was assigned to a public defender at her Wednesday court appearance after telling the judge she hasn't worked in ten years, and cannot afford an attorney. She is expected to be back in court on November 13.