Grand Rapids Man Ordered To Trial For Fire That Killed Wife, 3 Boys

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A Grand Rapids man blamed for a fire that killed his wife and three children was ordered to trial Wednesday on involuntary manslaughter charges.

Investigators said a mattress or box spring between the house and a fire pit likely fueled the fire in February.

Robert Scales, who wasn't home at the time, was negligent, said District Court Judge Jennifer Faber, who found enough evidence to send the case to trial in Kent County court.

"What we have is a series of accidents that could have been different," Faber said. "There could have been smoke detectors. ... The fire pit could have been in a different location. There's a lot of would have, could have, should have."

Defense attorney Anthony Greene argued that the lack of working smoke detectors was the fault of Wanedia Scales.

The fire victims were Wanedia Scales, 35, Xavier Woldeab, 15, Elijah Scales, 10, and Robert Scales Jr., 14.

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