Kristi Kay Kisselburg, 27, owner of Miss Kristy’s Day Care Center in Sallisaw, was charged with second-degree arson and endangering emergency service personnel lives.
Kisselburg has denied the charges, and said the fire was a mistake after she left a piece of chicken cooking in an oven, which ignited the gasoline she was cleaning with. She claims the fire started when she opened the oven and flames shot out, and igniting different areas of the building.
Donn Baker, defense attorney for Kisselburg, previously said expert witness Matt Cooper, a nationally-certified fire investigator with JJMA Investigations of Poteau, testified in May that the fire happened just like the owner said it did—accidentally.
But, Tony Rust, Oklahoma Fire Marshal agent testified, during the May preliminary hearing that that was not the case. He said here were two separate fire starts in the building. Investigators also claim there was no chicken in the oven and there was a gasoline trail throughout the daycare.
Prosecuting attorney Crieg Rittenhouse, Muskogee County assistant district attorney, said Kisselburg was bound over for trial because the judge ruled there was enough evidence. Rittenhouse said a date for Kisselburg’s trial has not been set.
