Murrieta police have arrested a local couple in connection with a December mobile-home blaze that killed two of their daughters, authorities said. The early-morning fire on Dec. 20, 2025 tore through the family’s trailer and nearby structures, killing two children and several household pets. The mid-March arrests came after a months-long arson investigation that detectives say produced probable-cause evidence tying the parents to the deadly fire.
According to a press release from the Murrieta Police Department, detectives and arson investigators concluded there was enough evidence to establish probable cause that Stacey Hales, 46, and Adam Keenan, 43, were criminally responsible for the Dec. 20 blaze. The department lists Hales’ charges as two counts of reckless burning causing death, two counts of reckless burning of an inhabited structure, two counts of child endangerment, one count of animal cruelty and an under-the-influence allegation. Keenan faces child-endangerment and controlled-substance charges. Reporting by the Los Angeles Times notes that Hales was released on $160,000 bail, while Keenan remained in custody.
Investigation details
Prosecutors allege the disaster started with a late-night cooking session. They say Hales was frying tortilla chips in hot oil on an outdoor propane stove set up beneath a wooden carport, then went to bed without making sure the propane tank was turned off. Investigators contend that the decision triggered the chain of events that led to the fatal fire.
Documents obtained by CBS Los Angeles and arrest declarations reviewed by Patch describe a home already flirting with disaster before the flames. Investigators documented prior kitchen fires, exposed wiring where smoke alarms should have been, and main doorways partially blocked by dog crates and other belongings. According to those records, both parents admitted to regular methamphetamine use, and post-fire toxicology tests found methamphetamine and cannabis in their systems.
Why charges were filed now
Murrieta police say the March arrests capped a joint investigation by city detectives and Murrieta Fire & Rescue that resulted in the probable-cause declarations now being forwarded to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, according to the department press release. That release also urges anyone with additional information to contact Detective Velazquez and lists a tip line for callers.
In the weeks after the fire, local coverage detailed GoFundMe campaigns and community fundraisers set up to help the family with funeral and medical expenses, as regional outlets reported. The arrests have added a legal twist to what had already been a heartbreaking neighborhood tragedy.
Legal implications
Hales faces a stack of felony counts, including reckless burning causing death and arson of an inhabited structure, along with child-endangerment and animal-cruelty charges. Prosecutors have also filed an enhancement tied to the severity of the harm. Keenan is charged with child endangerment and an under-the-influence count. The specific charges and relevant statutes cited in police filings are outlined in coverage by the Los Angeles Times, which notes the case is proceeding through Riverside County courts.
Community reaction and safety takeaways
The case has left neighbors and extended family trying to process both grief and the now-public details of what investigators say went wrong. Local reporting shows that friends, relatives and community members quickly rallied after the December blaze, organizing fundraising pages to help cover funeral costs and medical bills.
Fire officials and investigators have repeatedly highlighted the same trio of issues that surfaced in this case: unattended high-heat oil cooking, blocked exits and nonworking smoke alarms. Authorities have framed those findings as a blunt reminder for residents to keep smoke alarms installed and functional, avoid obstructing escape routes and treat outdoor cooking equipment with the same caution as a kitchen stove.
