LoginMichigan grandmother wants custody of girl whose mom died in fire as father faces charges
The grandmother of a girl seriously burned in a fire that claimed the life of her mother earlier this year in mid-Michigan has filed for legal custody of the child.
The girl’s father, Aaron Michael Painter, 36, has been charged with three felonies in the case, including involuntary manslaughter, the delivery or manufacturing of a controlled substance (marijuana) and third-degree child abuse.
He’s now free on bond awaiting trial in 29th Circuit Court in Gratiot County.
The grandmother, Karen Smith of St. Louis, is the mother of Ali Marie Smith, who died in the March 8 blaze at 170 E. Chestnut St., in Breckenridge, where she resided with Painter and their daughter, who was 7 at the time.
The custody case is being heard by Gratiot County Probate Judge Kristin Bakker, according to court records.
A pre-trial hearing has been set for Tuesday with a jury trial scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 9.
Ali Smith perished in the fire while her daughter was rescued from the burning structure and resuscitated by emergency responders at the scene.
The blaze was reported about 3:30 a.m. after witnesses reported hearing an explosion.Painter was found outside the home by rescue personnel and was taken to a local hospital then airlifted to Hurley Medical Center in Flint for treatment of burns he also suffered.
The Michigan State Police Fire Investigation Division was called in to help determine the cause and origin of the fire and Painter was later arrested and charged with the three felonies he currently faces.
