Parents Arrested in Connection With Fatal December Fire That Killed Two Murrieta Girls

Stacey Hales and Adam Keenan have been arrested for the fire that killed their two daughters in Murrieta. Read the full report on the reckless burning charges.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 14, 2026, 5:20 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from the Daily Breeze

Arrests Follow Three-Month Investigation Into Deadly Blaze

Nearly three months after a devastating fire swept through a Murrieta mobile home park, police have arrested the parents of the two young victims. On Friday, March 13, authorities announced that Stacey Hales and Adam Keenan were taken into custody following an extensive investigation into the December 20 incident. The fire, which broke out in the 41000 block of Knight Drive, claimed the lives of 11-year-old Abby and 12-year-old Emma. While the girls’ mother, Hales, has been released on $160,000 bail, Keenan remains in custody as the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office prepares to file formal felony charges.

Details of the Fatal December Morning

The tragedy unfolded just before 4:45 a.m. on December 20, 2024, when first responders arrived to find a mobile home and several surrounding structures—including a carport and two outbuildings—fully engulfed in flames. The fire also consumed three vehicles and a large pine tree. It took firefighters approximately 45 minutes to suppress the blaze. In the aftermath, investigators discovered the bodies of the two sisters along with multiple household pets. Three other individuals, including Hales and Emma’s twin sister, Ashley, were injured but survived. Hales reportedly suffered temporary blindness during the incident but has been undergoing a gradual recovery.

Allegations of Reckless Burning and Substance Use

The Murrieta Police Department has leveled serious allegations against the parents, specifically citing "reckless burning" as a factor in the girls' deaths. While the department has not yet released the specific evidence or a definition of the reckless act, the charges against Hales include reckless burning causing death, reckless burning of an inhabited structure, and animal cruelty. Furthermore, both Hales and Keenan were arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance and child endangerment. The specific type of drug involved has not been disclosed to the public, but the presence of narcotics has become a focal point of the criminal inquiry.