News

August 22, 2008

Police: Mom left children alone

Mother faces charges after fatal fire claimed son, injured daughter.

By Ed Lewis elewis@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
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HANOVER TWP. – A 4-year-old boy playing with fire set the December blaze that claimed his life and injured his younger sister when they were left alone by their mother, authorities said on Thursday.

Their mother, Danielle Moore, 23, was charged with leaving her children, Keileb and Sunshine, 3, unattended in their Dundee Apartments residence when she visited a neighbor on Dec. 14.

While she was away from her apartment, authorities said, Keileb ignited a couch with matches or a lighter, according to arrest records.

Arrest records say state police Deputy Fire Marshal Ron Jarocha found a match stick and a lighter in Keileb’s bedroom closet.

Moore, who moved to West Newport Street, Glen Lyon, surrendered with her attorney Frank Nocito at the office of District Judge Joseph Halesey in Hanover Township. She was charged with two counts each of endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person. She was released on $25,000 unsecured bail.

Moore declined comment. Nocito called the incident “a tragedy.”

According to the criminal complaint filed by township police Sgt. Dean Stair, Luzerne County Detective Lt. Gary Capitano and Jarocha: Firefighters responded to apartment 46 after 11 a.m. Dec. 14 and found the residence fully engulfed. Moore was injured when she attempted to get inside.

Firefighters pulled Keileb from his bedroom and transported him to Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, where he died.

Sunshine was found on the first floor and flown to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, and treated for smoke inhalation.

Moore told authorities she awoke and found Keileb sitting on a couch on the first floor and Sunshine sleeping in her bedroom. She asked Keileb why the front door was open, and he replied that Theresa Stoner, a neighbor, had left it open. Moore claimed she walked to Stoner’s apartment to ask her why she left the door open. Stoner said she wasn’t at Moore’s apartment and suggested Keileb may have been playing in the snow and left the door open.

Stoner, who resides about 50 feet from where Moore lived, told authorities she babysat Moore’s children, and noted they needed constant attention due to their active behavior.

Stoner claimed, the criminal complaint says, that Moore sat at her kitchen table and poured her a cup of coffee. While they were talking, Moore ran out the door because Moore’s apartment was on fire.

Edward Lewis, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7196.

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