Mother Found Guilty After Twins Die in House Fire While She Shopped
A 29-year-old mother, Deveca Rose, has been found guilty of the manslaughter of her four young sons after a fire tragically claimed their lives while she was out shopping. The fatal fire, which occurred on the evening of December 16, 2021, in the family’s rented home in Sutton, south-west London, claimed the lives of two sets of twins: three-year-olds Leyton and Logan Hoath, and four-year-olds Kyson and Bryson Hoath.
Deveca Rose had left her children home alone and locked inside the house when the fire broke out. The Old Bailey jury found her guilty of four counts of manslaughter by a majority of 11 to one. However, Rose was cleared of charges of child cruelty. Judge Mark Lucraft KC described the case as “tragic” and postponed sentencing until November 15. Rose, who had been battling mental health issues following her breakup with her partner, was granted continued bail pending her sentencing.
How the Tragedy Unfolded
On that fateful evening, Rose had left her home to run errands at a nearby supermarket. As she shopped, a cigarette or tea light reportedly ignited a fire in the living room of the house, spreading rapidly. The four young boys, trapped upstairs, desperately called for help as the flames consumed their home. A neighbor attempted to break down the front door to rescue them, but it was too late. Firefighters arrived on the scene, donning breathing apparatus, and found the boys’ lifeless bodies under their beds.
Despite being rushed to two separate hospitals, the children could not be saved, and they died from inhaling the toxic fumes produced by the fire.
Rose’s Defense and Previous Incidents
Throughout the trial, Rose had claimed she left her children in the care of a friend named Jade. This prompted firefighters to re-enter the burning house, searching for the mysterious woman. However, an investigation by the police found no evidence that Jade existed or was ever at the house that day. Under police questioning, Rose later admitted that she had left the boys alone at home on two prior occasions, though she insisted that these instances were brief.
The boys’ father, Dalton Hoath, expressed his devastation over the loss of his sons, saying his world had been turned “upside down” by the tragedy. In a statement, he revealed that Rose had left the boys home alone before, often to make quick trips to a nearby shop.
Concerns Raised Before the Fire
Testimonies from family members and social workers during the trial painted a grim picture of the conditions the boys were living in before the fire. Rose’s rented home was in a state of severe neglect. According to prosecutor Kate Lumsdon KC, rubbish was strewn throughout the house, and the bathroom was so cluttered with trash that it was unusable. Instead, the family had resorted to using buckets and pots as toilets.
Paternal family members also testified to Rose’s troubling behavior. Paternal great-grandmother Sally Johnson revealed that she had questioned Rose about leaving the children alone. “She would say, ‘Oh no, I just went to the pop shop,’” Johnson said. Rose’s stepmother, Kerrie Hoath, described the boys as “polite, carefree, and very much loved” but shared that Rose was often reluctant to allow her inside the home. Kerrie recounted one occasion when Rose refused to let her use the bathroom, instead directing her to a nearby Tesco.
A social worker, Georgia Singh, had raised concerns about the family’s living conditions three months before the fire, but the case had been closed. During the trial, defense barrister Laurie-Anne Power KC highlighted Rose’s declining mental health, arguing that these signs should have prompted further intervention.
Conclusion
The deaths of Leyton, Logan, Kyson, and Bryson Hoath have left a community in mourning and a family shattered. As the sentencing date approaches, questions linger about the circumstances that led to this tragic event, and whether more could have been done to prevent it.
Social Media Reactions:
- “This is absolutely heartbreaking. Four little angels gone too soon. 💔” — @GrievingMom
- “I can’t believe she left them alone. Mental health or not, they were babies!” — @RealTruths
- “Rest in peace, little ones. The system failed you.” — @Justice4All
- “No words for this kind of tragedy. Hug your kids a little tighter tonight.” — @ParentLife
- “That poor father… I can’t imagine losing all your children like this.” — @HeartbrokenDad
- “How was this case closed by social services? They should’ve intervened sooner!” — @FixTheSystem
- “The mental health struggles are real, but those kids didn’t deserve to die. So sad.” — @MentalHealthAwareness
- “This could have been avoided. My heart goes out to the family.” — @SuttonResident
- “Justice for those poor boys. May they rest in peace.” — @FamilyFirst
- “As a mom, I can’t even fathom this. So senseless.” — @MomLifeTruths
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