Funeral Held for 3 Young Fire Victims

ROBBINSDALE, Minn. (AP) — Minneapolis community leaders helped say goodbye to three children who died in a house fire two weeks ago.

Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek and U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison attended Saturday's memorial service in Robbinsdale. KSTP-TV reports some firefighters who were first responders that night were also honored.

Six-year-old Latorious Thomas, 5-year-old Latoria Thomas and 23-month-old Latorianna Thomas died in the Oct. 3 fire.

Their mother has said she used the oven to heat the rented home because the heater was broken.

Ellison says they shouldn't have had to use an oven to stay warm.

Investigators have raised questions about whether the mother was home when the fire started.

Pastor Harding Smith says the purpose of the service was to focus on the children, not the controversies of the case.