State v. Ritt

OPINION

STRINGER, Justice.

Twenty-three-month-old Hannah Ritt died in her crib when a fire occurred in her home on March 25, 1997. Death was caused by toxic fumes released from the burning of an acrylic afghan. Six days later Hannah’s mother, appellant Kelly Jean Ritt, spoke with Detective James Rgnonti of the Hastings Police Department and admitted tossing an afghan from Hannah’s crib toward a daybed in the room and not moving it when it landed partially on a space heater on the floor. Ritt denied “wanting” to cause a fire or kill Hannah but admitted “hoping” that Hannah would die. Ritt was…