CONCORD - The trial for a mother accused of killing her two children by starting a fire at the Midland mobile home where the family lived is scheduled to begin Monday with jury selection.
Lisa Louise Greene, 42, could face the death penalty or life in prison if found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree arson in the January 10, 2006 fire.
Greene’s court appointed attorneys Lisa Andrew Dubs and Richard Campbell, have asked for more time to prepare for the trial, but their last appeal for a continuation was denied, setting an Oct. 8 court date, according to a court document obtained by the Independent Tribune.
A Cabarrus County judge has issued a “gag order,” barring anyone associated with the case from speaking to the media. Judge Robert Bell, a superior judge from Mecklenburg County, will preside over the case.
According to court documents, the Midland Volunteer firefighters responded to Greene’s doublewide trailer at 10925 Candilara Lane after receiving a 2 a.m. 911 call from neighbors who had heard her screams for help. Firefighters found the two children, Nathan “Daniel” Macemore, 10, and Addison Brooke Macemore, 8, dead of carbon monoxide poisoning in the back bedroom. Police found half an ounce of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the living room of the house and arrested Greene, documents said.
Greene initially told investigators that the fire likely started with a candle that was lit in the children’s room. During an interview Jan. 13, 2006, investigators told Greene that little fire damage was seen inside the room with the children and she then confessed to starting the blaze by lighting a blanket on fire and placing it on top of a bookcase outside of the children’s room, documents said.
In a sworn statement by N.C. SBI Special Agent Mullis, an arson investigator recounted the interview with Greene.
“Greene admitted that she knew that the bookcase outside the kid’s room had caught on fire. Greene admitted to this (investigator) that she then closed the door of the kids’ bedroom and went back to a recliner in the living room and sat as the fire burned.”
After smelling smoke, Mullis’ statement continued, she left the residence. Greene admitted she did nothing to assist her children.
An arson expert, John Lentini, hired by Greene’s defense team who is scheduled to testify will rebut investigators claims that the fire began outside of the children’s room.
Her attorney’s have issued a motion to suppress the confession because they claim she was taking medication given to her the night of the fire by emergency room doctors and she was distraught because the five and a half hour interview took place during the funeral visitations for her children.
A hearing for the suppression is scheduled for next week.
Greene has been held in the Cabarrus County jail with no bond since Jan 13, 2006. - Josh Lanier
