GUILTY AL - Natalie, 5, & Jonathan DeBlase, 3, beaten, poisoned, Mobile, 1 March 2010

[daisy7]

(snip)

In lieu of a Christmas without his grandchildren, Richard said he picked two names from the Angel Tree in honor of his angels.

"Natalie and Chase were our angels. I never had wealth of money but I had wealth in terms of joy from these angels, Natalie's smile and the laughter of Chase," he said.

As Richard tries to cope with the reality of his son behind bars and loss of his grandchildren, to help him get through each day, he said he just tries to remember the happier times, and is planning a memorial in their honor.

"Once in heaven the children received a blessing from above feeling of love and happiness, never again to be hurt, abused or unloved," added Richard.

The family is holding a memorial for the children. It will be Saturday January 8, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. The memorial will be held at the Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home Chapel on Three Notch Road.

(snip)

http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/local_news/mobile_county/grandfather-speaks-on-deblase-children

 

[mysticrose]

Keaton's attorney talks to FOX10 News
Updated: Friday, 17 Dec 2010


SNIPPED<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<


Bender is trying to learn as much information as possible. Leavell-Keaton and John Deblase are both jailed in connection with the deaths and disposal of the bodies believed to be Natalie and Chase. Deblase is facing two counts of felony murder, and Bender said Keaton doesn't know the exact dates she last saw the kids.

"He indicated to her he was going to take the kids to an uncle's house and that would have been the last time she saw them. That was in Mobile," Bender added

http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/crime/keaton's-attorney-talks-to-fox10-news

 

[Seymour Krelborn]

JONATHAN DEBLASE, Age Now: 4, Missing: 03/01/2010. Missing From MOBILE, AL. ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT: Mobile Police Department (Alabama) 1-251-208-7211.

More...

 

[georgiajean]

Thinking of Jonathan and Natalie today. No new news in their killers' legal proceedings, that I can find.

Here is a link to their obituary, with announcement of memorial proceedings on January 8th.
http://obits.al.com/obituaries/mobile/obituary.aspx?n=natalie-alexis-deblase&pid=147138177

Comments may be left at the guest book, on the link above.

 

[AmyinTheHam]

I found a new story about this today. Now the Stepmom is saying the father poisoned the children.... Here is the link from al.com
http://blog.al.com/live/2011/01/deblase_stepmother_children_poisoned.html

 

[daisy7]

MOBILE, Alabama - The woman charged with torturing Natalie and Chase DeBlase told police the children were poisoned by their father, according to the lead investigator, who testified during a preliminary hearing Friday morning.

Heather Leavell-Keaton, 22, went to investigators in Louisville, Kentucky in November, more than eight months after Natalie, 5, was killed.

Keaton, who said she smelled a "toxic odor" on both Natalie and 3 year old Chase's breath just before their deaths, told police that Natalie died on March 4 and Chase died on June 20, Father's Day. Keaton also told police Natalie was sick for about a week and threw up "black stuff" before she died.

(snip)

http://www.wkrg.com/alabama/article...e-were-poisoned/1203862/Jan-07-2011_12-49-pm/

 

[passionflower]

What a horrible way to torture children to death.......from post #385

 

[babycat]

http://www.sunherald.com/2011/01/07/2759214/arraignment-friday-in-ala-childrens.html

from our local paper

 

[mikeysmommom]

This is unbelievable how could people know these 2 babies were being starved and abused and do NOTHING about it.They should be in jail for not trying to get those babies help! I am so glad both are being charged with murder, I just wished they could be starved and abused everyday. RIP Little Natalie and little Chase I am so sorry no one helped to stop your torture.

 

[Fyrecat]

this is why I strongly believe that not everyone should be allowed to have kids. If you have them, can't take care of them, they should be taken from you and given to someone who can and will take care of them. This is beyond sad.

 

[daisy7]

MOBILE, Alabama - Little Natalie and Chase DeBlase were laid to rest Saturday.

Family, friends, and even some who didn't know the children packed Mobile Memorial Gardens to say their last goodbyes.

(snip)

http://www.wkrg.com/alabama/article/deblase-children-laid-to-rest/1203895/Jan-08-2011_10-43-pm/

 

[watcher9]

I had to drop away from this case. I couldn't handle it.

Saw this today describing some of the testimony at the hearing - he said, she said.

http://www.newschannel9.com/news/-997555--.html

 

[georgiajean]

Best article I have seen on last Friday's hearing.
http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/crime/hearing-friday-in-deblase-murder-case

Explains scenarios from both adults' perspectives.

"Prine says both of them agree that four-year-old Natalie died on March 4th, 2010 and three-year-old Jonathan died on June 20th, but the couple disagree over how the children died."

Article describes the evidence that was found in the woods.

There is a video attached to the article.
Capitol murder charges have been brought against HK.
Felony murder charges brought against JB.

 

[daisy7]

MOBILE, Alabama - The woman accused of torturing Natalie and Chase DeBlase pleaded not guilty to capital murder charges Tuesday.

Heather Leavell-Keaton, 22, who was initially charged with child abuse and abuse of a corpse, appeared in court on the upgraded murder charges with two court appointed attorneys, Richard Horne and Jim Vollmer.

The prosecutor has declined to discuss what brought about the capital murder charges, but testimony during a preliminary hearing on related charges suggests the children died after being tortured by Keaton.

(snip)

http://www.wkrg.com/alabama/article...-murder-charges/1204090/Jan-18-2011_11-32-am/

video at link

 

[daisy7]

MOBILE, Alabama (WALA) - UPDATE: 11:54 a.m. The lead prosecutor in the murder of Natalie and Jonathan Deblase testified Monday the children&#8217;s stepmother, Heather Keaton, confessed to killing the children to a jail inmate.

It was the first time the defense said it had heard of the confession, which was allegedly made to Angela Russell. She was assigned to help Keaton, who was isolated from other inmates for her own protection.

Russell contacted Mobile Police after her release from jail in mid-December. She told investigators Keaton said she and John Deblase, the children&#8217;s father, used anti-freeze to poison the children. Russell said the couple had first used the antifreeze on a family dog to see how long it would take to kill &#8220;a living thing.&#8221;

(snip)

http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/crime/heather-keaton-in-court-for-preliminary-hearing?12354

 

[Sailor Bug]

Couple 'killed their children with anti-freeze because they were too much responsiblity'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-Chase-Natalie-anti-freeze.html#ixzz1E3odKl91

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...illed-children-Chase-Natalie-anti-freeze.html

 

[georgiajean]

Couple 'killed their children with anti-freeze because they were too much responsiblity'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-Chase-Natalie-anti-freeze.html#ixzz1E3odKl91

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...illed-children-Chase-Natalie-anti-freeze.html

Does anyone know if they will be able to find evidence of antifreeze in the recovered bones? Is that something that would leave traces in the marrow or anything?
Horrific. The grandfather who disowned his son must be hurting something awful.

 

[daisy7]

MOBILE, Alabama - The grandfather of Chase and Natalie Deblase says he hasn't slept since learning how his grandchildren died. Prosecutors say four year old Natalie and three year old Chase were poisoned last year by their father, John Deblase, and stepmother, Heather Keaton, and their bodies found dumped in the woods.

(snip)

http://www.wkrg.com/alabama/article...unts-grandfather/1204805/Feb-16-2011_5-22-pm/

Also has a video. It is heartbreaking

 

[georgiajean]

MOBILE, Alabama - The grandfather of Chase and Natalie Deblase says he hasn't slept since learning how his grandchildren died. Prosecutors say four year old Natalie and three year old Chase were poisoned last year by their father, John Deblase, and stepmother, Heather Keaton, and their bodies found dumped in the woods.

(snip)

http://www.wkrg.com/alabama/article...unts-grandfather/1204805/Feb-16-2011_5-22-pm/

Also has a video. It is heartbreaking

From the above article

Since Natalie and Chase's deaths, Richard and his wife, Ann, are focusing on getting a Grandparents Rights Bill passed in the Alabama Legislature. They are working with a Baldwin County lawmaker. The bill would give grandparents more rights to see their grandchildren. The Deblases didn't get to see their grandchildren, even when they knew the children were in trouble. Deblase says, "If it helps just one child, so be it."

I am glad Natalie and Chase's grandfather has found a way to take action in the midst of such sorrow. I have a feeling this will help far more than one child.

From another article
Grandfather gave the following statement to Fox News during HK's court date Feb. 14:

The statement reads: "Today is Valentine's Day, a day for love. Natalie and Jonathan had the ultimate love for their grandparents. Representative Harry Shiver of Baldwin County has a bill, a Grandparent's Bill of Rights. Please support this representative in his quest to pass this bill. The bill is too late to help Natalie and Jonathan but maybe it will stop this from happening again. Only the citizens of Alabama can stop this by passing a Grandparent's Bill of Rights. The loving Grandparents of Natalie and Jonathan Deblase remember these children were born from love. Love your grandchildren any way you can. You will never regret it. Richard Deblase."

http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/crime/heather-keaton-in-court-for-preliminary-hearing

 

[georgiajean]

Key witness to DeBlase murders back in jail.
http://www.wkrg.com/alabama/article...murders-arrested/1205085/Feb-25-2011_1-25-pm/
The woman who was cell-mates with HK ("stepmom"), and who told LE about HK's confession, is back behind bars after getting involved in drugs shortly after her release.

Russell is a key witness in the murders of Natalie and Chase DeBlase. Russell told detectives that Keaton admitted to pouring anti-freeze in the children's spaghetti and other meals with the help of the children's father, John DeBlase.