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STAMFORD, Conn. — Matt Lauer's full interview with Madonna Badger, whose parents and three daughters died in a Christmas Day fire in her Stamford home, aired Thursday night on NBC’s “Rock Center With Brian Williams.”
Badger told the "Today" host that she wants more answers about the deadly fire.
The biggest question she said she wants answered is to determine the real cause of the fire. Badger said she does not fully believe that the ashes taken from the fireplace are to blame, as reported by Stamford officials. She told Lauer that her boyfriend, Michael Borcina, ran his hands through the ashes so they had to be cool. But she also said she saw sparks flying from an electrical meter outside her home during the blaze.
“The cause of that fire is important for me to know in order to find some peace,” Badger said. The truth would honor her parents and three daughters, even if the cause turned out to be the ashes, she said.
The city had her house demolished Dec. 26, and she was not told until meeting with the police after the funeral for her daughters, she said. The city also took everything in her house, without doing an inventory and without keeping her informed of what was happening, she said.
“They won’t tell me, I’ve asked them,” Badger said, saying she does not know where the debris was dumped and comparing the city’s actions to a crime.
The lack of answers is why she has taken the first steps toward suing the city for negligence and wrongful conduct, Badger said.
Williams ended the segment by saying the city of Stamford declined to address the matter.
Comments (13)
I am in construction and have NOT ever heard of parts of a house getting a CO . It is almost always all or nothing . I dont think stamford should have to pay anything . I see people moving in to houses before co are giving everyday . CO are giving for a reason and it is to make sure the house is safe. She was living in a dangerous situation and should take blame for it . Some houses in that area are big and close together They might have knocked it down so it didnt collapse and endanger the residents living close to the house.
I feel bad for what she went thru but I see to many wealthy people living in home under construction or trying to move in too early to homes when they shouldnt
Yes, this is a tragic story, but as other commentors wrote, too many unanswered questions and how so many things don't add up.
In some way, you would think that Ms. Badger would be grateful that her house was demolished. Now there is no proof that she and her boyfriend could be found negligent.
Yes, her house was demolished way too quickly, but it was probably done out of compassion. Such a horrific tragedy - for the family and the community.
My guess, and it's a guess... new handsome boyfriend... the spirit of the Holidays... everyone else is fast asleep, finally some alone time, crack open a bottle of wine... etc., etc. Hmm... I suppose there was no sobriety tests made that night. How insensitive that would have been...
I had read that she is sueing the city of Stamford for 3 million dollars. I don't think the good people of Stamford should be paying for her not having her home fitted with proper working smoke detectors.
Her boyfriend ran his hands through the ashes? Really??? She may not be a liar, but obviously her boyfriend is, in my opinion. First of all, who would run their hands through fireplace ashes? He must have been about 5 years old and and like to play with ashes. Secondly, fireplace ashes could stay hot for days. There's no way he could run his hands through those ashes, Having said all that, it is strange that the city demolished the house on the very next day. Didn't they want to preserve the house in case of more investigation needed? Something smells fishy there in Stamford.
In December I was skeptical of the boyfriend, Mike Borcina. But I felt reviled that they tore the house down the next day when five people perished. I don't believe that is normal protocol for any substantial fire, let alone when one or more people die!
After much thought and hearing Madonna Badger's comments I agree with her. How dare they take away what few mementos that might have been left. The stuffed animals she was given were probably from what people had brought and left curbside to pay their respects to the children.
The house was under construction and most likely had a separate pole with an electric meter on it on the lawn and CL&P will only turn it on for use AFTER an inspection and permit is given I think. Perhaps it was this outside run elec meter which caused the blaze. As Ms. Badger stated when she went out to the side of the house where the mudroom was there were sparks shooting in that vicinity! And she feels her mention of the ashes led the investigators to only that cause although Mr. Borcina had run his hands through the embers as she said. Or perhaps even criminal arson committed by a male, jealous of her success and new boyfriend and I'll get them attitude. I just hope all of these avenues and alibis were investigated, but due to the teardown I tend to think not.
What firefighter/policeman/city inspector would ok a teardown of their home if family members perished?
A 24 hour police cruiser should have been assigned to the property for a few days while the investigation was underway, if the city of Stamford felt it was that unsafe for the public!
As Ms. Badger stated when she went out to the side of the house where the mudroom was there were sparks shooting in that vicinity! And she feels her mention of the ashes led the investigators to only that cause although Mr. Borcina had run his hands through the embers as she said.
Where was this said? I don't recall reading any of this.
In regard to the fire, there was a C.O. issued ONLY for the first floor..why did Ms. Badger and boyfriend let HER family all sleep on the second and third floor, while they stayed where the C.O. was issued? At the cost of people jumping all over me, PERSONALLY, I blame her and her boyfriend for what happened. He put embers in a PLASTIC BAG and put it in the mudroom..common sense? They shouldve been in a steel container and AWAY from the house. Neither one of them thought to try to save her family...I'm sorry, but if there was a fire, I would run to get my children...too much of this story doesnt make sense...
Ms. Badger said this in her interview with Matt Lauer.
I think no matter what the tragic cause, we can all agree that the house was demolished prematurely due to the tragic loss of life, without proper consent and a really thorough unbiased investigation.
Why would a CO be issued for only the first floor? If the entire home cannot be COed none of it should be.
You should watch her interview with Matt Lauer. I did and changed some of my perspective.
I believe it happens quite a bit (the C.O. being issued for one section of a house). The original story I heard was that the master bedroom was on the first floor, and even though the second and third floors were never issued a C.O. the mom and boyfriend felt it was safe enough.
I don't understand why the house was demolished, would love to hear who ordered that to happen. There was quite a bit about the boyfriend that didnt sound right, don't recall all of it, but at the time things that he said in interviews just didn't sit right, if you know what I mean?
With all that said, I feel bad for ms. Badger and ESPECIALLY for the girls father, hind-site is 20/20, and hopefully people can learn from this tragedy. Maybe the city shouldnt issue a C.O. unless it is for the WHOLE house, perhaps that would be a step in the right direction.
Ok, I just remembered one thing that he said...he had two of the girls by the hand, and they panicked and ran from him. Sorry, but if you are in a fire and leading children out, you have a FIRM grip on them, there is no way two young girls could pull away from an adult, in my opinion. Also, they ran from him, so he left the house? There were other things he had said...and, as for running his hands through the ashes...who is lying here? What person in their right mind would run their hands through the ashes of a fire that was just put out? Those embers stay hot for quite a while after you put the fire out....
A liitle far fetched in regards to the criminal arson you mention committed by a male because she was successful and had a new boyfriend. Don't quit your day job and become a detective. (so stupid).
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Certainly seems to make some sense that she want someone to tell her absolutely that the boyfriend caused the fire. As long as their is some doubt, and I suspect that the boyfriend keeps feeding the doubt, she is probably uncomfortable blaming him. She is looking for that third party confirmation.
I think it criminal that anything was done to her property without her permission. To demolish private property & haul away her belongings without her knowledge or permission is so very wrong its unbelievable. Who paid for the demolition & dump fees? There are alot of unanswered questions about this.
I MAY be wrong, but during a fire, if CL&P doesnt cut power at the pole, wouldnt the meter on the house catch fire?