Mother, grandfather arrested in house fire killing 2 young children
BOSTIC, N.C. (FOX Carolina) - The mother and grandfather of two young children who died in a house fire in Rutherford County were arrested.
On Monday, they were indicted by a grand jury.
Investigators said 2-year-old Nasir Littlejohn and 3-year-old Niya Littlejohn were home alone on Bostic Sunshine Highway on Jan. 13 when a fire started in the living room.
The children were pulled from a back bedroom and transported to Atrium Health Cleveland where they died.
After an investigation, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office said they determined Jontae Nichelle Littlejohn “often” left the children at home when her father, John Randolph Littlejohn would take her to work at Zaxby’s.
“This particular morning was no different,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
Jontae Littlejohn and John Randolph Littlejohn were indicted for involuntary manslaughter and felony child abuse.
On Wednesday, Feb. 1, deputies said John Littlejohn was arrested, served with indictments and received a $45,500 secured bond. The mother, Jontae Littlejohn, turned herself in on Thursday, Feb. 2, and received a $225,000.
Officials said the cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but it remains under investigation.
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