Conn. fire victims' mom spends holiday in Thailand

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) -- A woman whose three daughters and parents were killed in a Christmas morning fire in Connecticut last year says she will spend this year's holiday praying and meditating in Thailand, a country she describes as a "Santa Claus-free zone."

The fire at Madonna Badger's home in Stamford killed 7-year-old twins Grace and Sarah, 9-year-old Lily, and Badger's parents. The blaze was blamed on a bag of fireplace ashes left in a mudroom by Badger's boyfriend, Michael Borcina. Badger and Borcina escaped the flames.

The girls' father, Badger's ex-husband Matthew Badger, recently told New York magazine he once had thoughts of killing himself, his ex-wife and Borcina.

Madonna Badger told NBC's "Today" show Thursday those thoughts are understandable. She says she's received psychiatric treatment and no longer thinks about killing herself.