West Englewood Mom, Aunt Charged in Deaths of Kids in House Fire
- Details
- Category: Chicago
- Published on Monday, 24 December 2012 10:00
- Written by The Chicago Defender
- Hits: 131
(AP) — Two women are facing charges in the deaths of two children who were home alone when a fire broke out.
Police say four children were in the apartment in Chicago's West Englewood neighborhood when the fire started early Saturday morning. Two-year-old Javaris Meakens and 3-year-old Jariyah Meakens died. Two boys, ages 7 and 4, were able to escape.
The children's mother, 23-year-old Tatiana Meakens, and their aunt, 22-year-old Britany Meakens, each are charged with two counts of felony child endangerment and two counts of endangering the life and health of a child. They're scheduled to appear in court Monday.
Police say a hot plate being used for heat in the first-floor apartment may have started the fire. Fire officials say they found no working smoke detectors in the building.
