The Murrieta Police Department says Stacey Hales, 46, and Adam Keenan, 43, were arrested and charged following a Dec. 20, 2025, mobile-home fire that killed their daughters, 12-year-old Emma Keenan and 11-year-old Abby Keenan. First responders arrived around 4:42 a.m. and spent about 45 minutes extinguishing a blaze that consumed the home, several outbuildings, vehicles and a nearby tree. A joint investigation by MPD detectives and Murrieta Fire & Rescue arson investigators produced probable cause to charge both parents; Hales faces multiple counts including reckless burning causing death and is out on $160,000 bail, while Keenan was booked on child endangerment and drug-related charges. Authorities ask anyone with information to contact Detective Velazquez.
California Parents Arrested, Charged After Mobile-Home Fire Kills Two Daughters Days Before Christmas
Murrieta, Calif. — Two parents have been arrested and charged after a devastating mobile-home fire on Dec. 20, 2025, that killed their two young daughters just days before Christmas, the Murrieta Police Department (MPD) said.
Fire, Response and Initial Findings
MPD officers and units from Murrieta Fire & Rescue responded to a residential structure fire at a mobile home on Knight Drive at about 4:42 a.m. local time. First responders arrived to find a mobile home, its carport, three vehicles, two outbuildings and a large pine tree "fully engulfed in flames." Fire crews worked for roughly 45 minutes to knock down the blaze.
After the scene was rendered safe, investigators discovered that two juveniles and multiple household pets had died in the fire. The victims were later identified as 12-year-old Emma Keenan and 11-year-old Abby Keenan.
Investigation and Arrests
MPD detectives and arson investigators from Murrieta Fire & Rescue launched a joint investigation. "As a result of that investigation, investigators determined there was sufficient evidence to establish probable cause that Stacey Hales and Adam Keenan, both residents of the home, were criminally responsible for the fire and resulting deaths of the juveniles and animals," the department said in a press release.
On Friday, March 13, authorities arrested 46-year-old Stacey Hales and 43-year-old Adam Keenan and booked them on multiple felony charges related to the blaze.
Charges and Custody Status
Stacey Hales has been charged with two counts each of reckless burning causing death, reckless burning of an inhabited structure and child endangerment, in addition to charges of animal cruelty and being under the influence of a controlled substance. According to MPD, Hales is out of custody on $160,000 bail and is awaiting a court appearance.
Adam Keenan faces two counts of child endangerment and a charge of being under the influence of a controlled substance. He was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, March 17, according to online jail records.
Aftermath and Community Response
In the weeks following the blaze, a GoFundMe page created by a woman who said she was a close friend of Hales raised funds for the family. Posts circulated on social media said Hales was hospitalized and had lost sight, that the children’s father was also receiving treatment, and that the family’s surviving daughter was staying with an uncle.
The MPD is asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Detective Velazquez at (951) 461-6340 or to submit tips anonymously through the department's website.
Note: All charges are allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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