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Police investigate house fire in Shirley that killed Jennifer McCusker, 41, Aidan Tarbell, 7, 2-year-old twins Ava & Brendan

Police are still investigating the cause of a house fire in Shirley that killed a mother and her three young children last week. A fire tore through the home of Jennifer McCusker, 41, on Friday night.

News 12 Staff

Oct 14, 2013, 7:26 PM

Updated 4,209 days ago

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Police are still investigating the cause of a house fire in Shirley that killed a mother and her three young children last week.

A fire tore through the home of Jennifer McCusker, 41, on Friday night. The blaze killed her, 7-year-old Aidan Tarbell and 2-year-old twins Ava and Brendan.

The twins' father, Peter Mistretta, is now forced to say goodbye to his family.

Police say the fire started in the living room of the home. They say they believe McCusker died trying to save her children.

Neighbors say they watched helplessly as the house was engulfed in flames at around 10:15 p.m.

A wake is tentatively scheduled for Thursday at Roma Funeral Home in Shirley, Newsday reports.