3 young children die in house fire, mother arrested

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- A 29-year-old mother is facing second-degree murder charges in connection with the tragic deaths of her three children in a fire that occurred late last year.

Photo byGuilford County

On the morning of December 12, 2022, authorities responded to a structure fire at 2518 Grimsley St., where they found three children deceased inside the home. The victims, aged 4 and two 1-year-old twins, were tragically trapped inside and succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Following an investigation that included interviews with neighbors and surveillance footage analysis, authorities determined that the children's mother, Brandi Sturdivant, was not present at home during the early hours of the fire. A neighbor returning from work spotted smoke and flames around 7:48 a.m., shortly before Sturdivant sought help from another neighbor.

Sturdivant was later located attempting to maneuver her vehicle at the end of Grimsley Street and was subsequently hospitalized.

Family members informed investigators that Sturdivant had six children, with the eldest not residing with her. They also disclosed concerns they had reported to Child Protective Services regarding Sturdivant's alleged neglect, including unsatisfactory living conditions, abandonment, and lack of supervision.

It was revealed that two months prior to the fire, Sturdivant had allegedly left her children unattended at home while she went out at night.

During questioning, Sturdivant admitted to using the stove in the living room instead of the baseboard heat to keep the house warm, which she attributed to causing the fire. An autopsy later revealed that one of the children had cocaine in their system, with Sturdivant admitting to the presence of cocaine in her home.

Initially charged with felony child abuse and parole violation, Sturdivant was further charged on Monday, March 11, with three counts of second-degree murder. She remains in custody at the Guilford County Detention Center pending a court appearance scheduled for Tuesday, March 12.

Records indicate that since 2016, the Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services has received a total of nine complaints related to Sturdivant. She had previously faced misdemeanor child neglect charges in September 2022 after one of the twins was found covered in feces. The children were temporarily removed from the home, and although they were later returned, concerns persisted, with another complaint lodged two months later regarding unsupervised children. The investigation into these matters is ongoing.

Information from Greensboro Police Department, WGHP, WXII, Yahoo, Guilford County Sheriff