Cops Find Remains in Search for Girl Allegedly Murdered by Her Father
Dec. 11, 2010— -- Police in Alabama found remains they say are likely Natalie DeBlase, a 5-year-old girl whose father is accused of murdering her, and her 3-year-old brother.
Mobile Police Maj. Kara Rose told The Associated Press that searchers found the remains in the woods off a rural road at around 9 a.m., a half-hour after beginning their hunt for the day.
The children's father, John DeBlase, is already charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Natalie and her brother, Chase.
DeBlase's girlfriend, Heather Leavell-Keaton, who was arrested in Louisville, Ky., on child abuse charges in the case, was being extradited to Alabama where court officials told ABC News she would face upgraded charges.
Natalie was killed and buried in Alabama in March and Chase was killed and buried in Mississippi in June, police said. Mobile Police Officer Christopher Levy said confusion over DeBlase's statements initially led investigators to believe that the boy was the first to die.
Neither child was reported missing until November when Leavell-Keaton went to police saying she feared for the safety of an infant that she had with DeBlase. The baby is currently in state custody.
DeBlase's lawyer Jim Sears told ABC News Friday that he was informed that Leavell-Keaton would also be charged with murder.
"She will be charged with the murders, that's my understanding from the prosecutors," Sears said.
Mobile County District Attorney John Tyson would not confirm Sears' statement.
"At this point murder charges are not authorized by the facts we have discovered. Any investigation takes as long as it takes, and we will absolutely charge what we can as the facts are discovered," Tyson said.
