Grand Jury to Hear Cases in Deadly Ohio Fire

PREBLE COUNTY, Ohio – A grand jury on Monday will hear the cases against a mother and her former boyfriend regarding a fire that killed two children Saturday morning.

Chastity J. Hall, 35, was arrested Wednesday on two preliminary counts of endangering children, a third-degree felony, in the deaths of daughter Malea Bradburn, 10, and son Malachi Bradburn, 9.

A former boyfriend of Hall's, Arcadio B. Escobar, 34, was charged with one preliminary count of trespassing at Hall's home near West Alexandria, Ohio. The charge is a fourth-degree felony.

The Preble County Prosecutor's Office will present evidence supporting the charges to a grand jury on Monday.

According to an affidavit of probable cause filed in the case, Hall left the two children home alone Friday night when she went to the VFW in Eaton, Ohio, as well as the 230 Club and two homes. The affidavit said Hall returned home at about 1:45 a.m. to put on new makeup and left again after seeing Malachi was asleep in his room and Malea was asleep on a couch.

When Hall returned home at about 6:45 a.m., she was intoxicated, according to the affidavit, and said to Fire Chief Jeff Shafer, "Where are my babies? My babies are in there."

The affidavit indicates Hall had searched for a babysitter for the night, including asking a teenage son to watch the children. Her parents, who have custody of the teenager, refused to allow him to leave, the affidavit said.

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