Police: Mother apparently wrote note in NYC fire

[July 26, 2010]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Police believe a mother who died in a suspected murder-suicide and arson in her New York City home penned a badly charred, fragmented note with the words "am sorry."

New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne said Sunday that the note's handwriting matched a diary also found in the Staten Island apartment. He says police believe both were written by Leisa Jones.

Investigators have described Jones' 14-year-old son as a suspect because he had a history of playing with fire. But they haven't ruled out his mother.

The bodies of Jones, her son and two young daughters -- their throats slit -- were found dead early Thursday during a fire at the home. The son had a razor under his body.

A fourth child, a 2-year-old boy, died at the hospital.

[Associated Press]

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