BANGOR (AP) – A Dexter woman whose sister and the toddler she was baby-sitting were murdered more than four years ago was being held Wednesday on an arson charge arising from a weekend fire at the home where the slayings took place.

Melanie Bragg, 39, was on suicide watch at the Penobscot County Jail.

At a District Court hearing Tuesday, Judge Jessie Gunther set bail at $15,000 in property or $3,000 cash and ordered that Bragg undergo a psychological evaluation to determine whether she is competent to stand trial.

A domestic dispute Friday night at the Church Street home that Bragg shared with Alan LaFountain apparently led to the fire Saturday, according to a court affidavit.

After being called to the residence, police arrested LaFountain, who was later released on bail. Bragg was taken Friday to Eastern Maine Medical Center after LaFountain told officers she was suicidal, the court documents said.

Bragg left the Dexter house in a taxi about 10 minutes before a neighbor reported the fire at about 7:30 a.m. Saturday, the affidavit said.

The fire was extinguished within an hour, and investigators determined that the blaze had been set on the bed in the master bedroom.

About an hour later, Bragg tried to cut her wrist and was taken to Mayo Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft, according to court documents. She was arrested after her release from the hospital.

Bragg’s sister, Mindy Gould, 20, and Treven Cunningham, 21 months, were shot in the back of the head on Dec. 3, 1999. Bragg discovered the bodies.

Gould had sought refuge with her sister a few weeks after ending a relationship with Jeffrey Cookson, who is serving two life sentences for the murders.

AP-ES-06-02-04 0930EDT