Carrie Petersen Albany Democrat-Herald | Posted: Sunday, May 21, 2006 10:00 pm
An Albany couple has been charged with first-degree arson and first-degree manslaughter in the death of their 19-year-old son, who died after being burned in an apartment fire.
According to Albany police, Nicolaas Dirk DeGroot, 45, and Agnes Elizabeth DeGroot, 48, started a fire in their apartment and left their son, who had severe autism, locked inside.
Christopher Aire DeGroot was alone in the apartment when firefighters arrived at 10:36 a.m. May 14. The young man was taken by helicopter to Legacy Emanual Hospital in Portland, where he died Friday afternoon, according to police.
"The fire started on some paper on the living room floor," Police Capt. Jeff Hinrichs said this morning. "Probable cause indicates the parents started the fire."
A statement released by police said, "Christopher DeGroot was unable to escape the fire because he had been locked inside the apartment by his parents earlier that morning when they left him alone."
The parents had installed a dead bolt lock on the door that required a key to unlock it from the inside. Locks had also been placed on the windows, according to police.
The fire was contained to the DeGroots' apartment in a small complex at 730 Fifth Ave. S.E. Damage to the building and contents was estimated to be $77,000.
Two cats were rescued from the fire and taken to Linn Veterinary Hospital. A firefighter was injured and treated at the scene.
On Friday, the parents voluntarily went to the police department for questioning and were arrested by detectives. Both DeGroots were lodged in the Linn County Jail on $500,000 security. They were arraigned Monday afternoon in Linn County Circuit Court.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Albany police detectives at 917-7686.