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An Arizona couple was arrested Wednesday and are facing several charges, including concealing human body parts and child abuse after firefighters responded to a fire at their home and discovered skeletal remains in the attic.
Just hours earlier, social workers from the Arizona Department of Child Safety removed two children -- ages 9 and 4 -- from the house.
Their removal occurred one week after officers from the Phoenix Police Department got a call from an 11-year-old girl who said she was home alone. The girl was removed from the house by social workers from the Arizona Department of Child Safety who suspected child abuse, police said.
On Wednesday, at around 2:07 p.m., firefighters descended on the house again after they were called about an ensuing blaze.
The children's father, Rafael Loera, attempted to stop authorities from coming in the house by telling them the flames were isolated to the fireplace, but the firefighters entered anyways, Phoenix fire Capt. Rob McDade told NBC News.
McDade added that if they had arrived at the scene five minutes later, the entire house would have been engulfed in flames, resulting in irreparable damage.
After putting out the flames, a department arson dog sniffed gasoline on the walls and floor, leading firefighters to the attic where they uncovered the human skeletal remains, McDade said.
Loera, 56, was arrested and charged with concealing human body parts, endangerment, child abuse and arson, police said. The mother, 50-year-old Maribel Loera, was arrested on suspicion of child abuse.
Arizona parents suspected of child abuse charged after skeletal remains discovered in home fire
When firefighters first arrived at the scene Tuesday, they were greeted at the door by a man who told them the flames were just in the fireplace and that they didn't need to come inside, officials said.
"Firefighters knew that was obviously not the case," Phoenix fire Capt. Rob McDade told NBC News. "We ignored his pleas and made entry."
The parents, taken to the Maricopa County 4th Avenue Jail, had not been assigned or hired attorneys by early Wednesday afternoon, according to prosecutors.
“As you can imagine, this is a very complex investigation. What’s important to know is that the three children are safe," Phoenix police Sgt. Maggie Cox told reporters at the scene on Wednesday.
“You can only imagine the amount, the layers of investigation that are going on. There are so many interviews that are being done, evidence that’s being processed,” Cox said.
Three children removed over suspected abuse, then skeletal remains found
Just hours earlier, social workers from the Arizona Department of Child Safety removed two children -- ages 9 and 4 -- from the house.
Their removal occurred one week after officers from the Phoenix Police Department got a call from an 11-year-old girl who said she was home alone. The girl was removed from the house by social workers from the Arizona Department of Child Safety who suspected child abuse, police said.
On Wednesday, at around 2:07 p.m., firefighters descended on the house again after they were called about an ensuing blaze.
The children's father, Rafael Loera, attempted to stop authorities from coming in the house by telling them the flames were isolated to the fireplace, but the firefighters entered anyways, Phoenix fire Capt. Rob McDade told NBC News.
McDade added that if they had arrived at the scene five minutes later, the entire house would have been engulfed in flames, resulting in irreparable damage.
After putting out the flames, a department arson dog sniffed gasoline on the walls and floor, leading firefighters to the attic where they uncovered the human skeletal remains, McDade said.
Loera, 56, was arrested and charged with concealing human body parts, endangerment, child abuse and arson, police said. The mother, 50-year-old Maribel Loera, was arrested on suspicion of child abuse.
Arizona parents suspected of child abuse charged after skeletal remains discovered in home fire
When firefighters first arrived at the scene Tuesday, they were greeted at the door by a man who told them the flames were just in the fireplace and that they didn't need to come inside, officials said.
"Firefighters knew that was obviously not the case," Phoenix fire Capt. Rob McDade told NBC News. "We ignored his pleas and made entry."
The parents, taken to the Maricopa County 4th Avenue Jail, had not been assigned or hired attorneys by early Wednesday afternoon, according to prosecutors.
“As you can imagine, this is a very complex investigation. What’s important to know is that the three children are safe," Phoenix police Sgt. Maggie Cox told reporters at the scene on Wednesday.
“You can only imagine the amount, the layers of investigation that are going on. There are so many interviews that are being done, evidence that’s being processed,” Cox said.
Three children removed over suspected abuse, then skeletal remains found
