A tragic incident in Murietta, California, has culminated in felony charges against two parents following a devastating fire that claimed the lives of their daughters. The victims, 12-year-old Emma Keenan and 11-year-old Abby Keenan, perished in the blaze that swept through the family’s mobile home just days before Christmas in 2025.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/fire-truck-two-daughters-fire-death-122125-21ee5345233e4acc873b83147a93decb.jpg)
The fire erupted on the morning of December 20, around 4:42 AM local time. Fire crews from both the Murietta Police Department and Murietta Fire & Rescue responded promptly to reports of a residential structure fire. Upon arrival, responders were confronted with a mobile home, alongside a carport, three vehicles, and two outbuildings, all “fully engulfed in flames,” as described by authorities.
Firefighters battled the fire for approximately 45 minutes before managing to bring it under control. After securing the scene, personnel discovered that not only had the two young girls perished, but several household pets had also lost their lives in the inferno.
In the aftermath of this horrific event, a comprehensive investigation was initiated, involving detectives from the Murietta Police and arson specialists from the local fire department. Following a thorough examination of the evidence, authorities announced that they had established probable cause to suggest that the children’s parents, Adam Keenan, 43, and Stacey Hales, 46, bore criminal responsibility for the fire and the consequent fatalities and loss of animal life.
On March 13, 2026, both parents were arrested and charged with a series of serious offences. Stacey Hales faces multiple charges including two counts of reckless burning causing death, reckless burning of an inhabited structure, child endangerment, animal cruelty, and being under the influence of a controlled substance. Following her arrest, she was released after posting bail set at $160,000 and is now awaiting a court appearance.
Adam Keenan, on the other hand, has been charged with two counts of child endangerment and also faces allegations of being under the influence of a controlled substance. He has since been booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center and is scheduled for a court hearing on Tuesday, March 17, as confirmed by online incarceration records.
In the wake of this tragedy, a close friend of Stacey Hales, identified as Andrea Raikoglo, took to GoFundMe to establish a fundraising campaign for the family. The page noted that Stacey was hospitalised and had suffered severe injuries, reportedly losing her eyesight in the process. Another individual, claiming to be an extended relative of Stacey, shared the fundraiser on social media, revealing that the girls’ father was also in treatment and that their surviving sibling had been placed in the care of an uncle.
The Murietta Police Department has urged anyone who may have additional information regarding the case to come forward. Detective Velazquez is leading the investigation and is available for contact at (951) 461-6340. Alternatively, tips may be submitted anonymously through the department’s website.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this heartbreaking event, the case against the parents continues to attract attention, particularly concerning the circumstances that led to the tragic loss of two young lives during a period that is often anticipated with joy and celebration. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek to shed more light on the events leading up to the fatal fire.