The parents of two pre-teenage girls who died in a Murietta mobile home fire in December were arrested on suspicion of multiple felonies, with the girl’s mother accused of the “reckless burning” that led to their deaths, authorities announced on Friday, March 13.
Murrieta police officers responded to a residential fire on the 41000 block of Knight Drive just before 4:45 a.m. on Dec. 20. First responders found a mobile home, carport, three vehicles, two outbuildings, and a large pine tree on fire. It took about 45 minutes for firefighters to put out the blaze that left two girls and multiple household pets dead, and three people injured.
A subsequent investigation led officials to believe there was enough evidence to show the mother and father of the girls who died, Stacey Hales and Adam Keenan, were responsible for the deadly blaze.
Details of the evidence were not provided as of Friday evening. Nor did officials explain in a Murrieta Police Department news release specifically what was meant by “reckless burning.”
Family members and friends previously identified the victims as the daughters of Stacey Hales: Emma, 12, and Abby, 11. Ashley, the twin of the 12-year-old daughter, survived. Stacey Hales temporarily lost her eyesight following the fire, but was regaining her vision as she recovered, according to a family member.
The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office is expected to file several felony charges against Hales and Keenan. She was arrested on suspicion of reckless burning causing death, reckless burning of an inhabited structure, child endangerment, animal cruelty and being under the influence of a controlled substance.
He was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment and being under the influence of a controlled substance. The type of drug was not released.
Hales is out of custody on $160,000 bail and is expected to make an upcoming court appearance. Keenan was arrested on March 13 and remains in custody.
Murrieta police are asking anyone with information about the fire to reach out to Detective Velazquez at 951-461-6340. Information may also be provided anonymously through the department’s website at www.murrietapolice.org.
No further information was available on Friday.