Natalie Deblase 5, Jonathan Deblase 3-Mobile AL July 2010 (Bodies found)

[klaasend]

R.I.P. Little Angels

[4 Donks]

I just don't understand.....how could a parent do this and then just go on with their lives. You are at peace now sweet angels.

[Green Eyes]

R.I.P. Little Angels

AMEN 

[klaasend]

http://www.wkrg.com/alabama/article/police-believe-father-buried-his-two-children/1203053/Dec-03-2010_9-35-pm/

Police Believe Father Buried His Two Children



by Steve Alexander
Published: Fri, December 03, 2010 - 9:08 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, December 03, 2010 - 9:35 pm CST


MOBILE, Alabama - Mobile Police arrested John DeBlase Friday night and charged him with two counts of aggravated child abuse, and two counts of abuse of a corpse.

Police believe DeBlase buried his two children, Natalie and Chase.
DeBlaze said the children's stepmother killed them.
Do police believe the children are dead?

Mobile Police Chief Micheal T. Williams said, "Based on what he had told us, we believe that."
So, now begins the search for the children's bodies.

Chief Williams said, "Tomorrow (Saturday), and for the next few days, the investigators will put a team together. They will be out looking for the children, based on what they've been told."

And, based on what police were told, I asked Chief Williams if he believes he knows where the children's bodies are.
He said, "We are not sure exactly, but, he has given us an indication of where they may be, of where he remembers burying the children."

Chief Williams then narrowed it down further.

He said, "We believe, based on what he had said, (their bodies are) within a hundred miles of Mobile."
Detectives have determined that both John DeBlase, and the children's stepmother, Heather Keaton, are responsible for the deaths.

But, who actually killed the children?

Chief Williams said, "I can't say that right now, but, the investigators are contnuing to talk with him, and, at this point, he's somewhat cooperative, so, we want to gain as much information while he's talking to us,"
But, Chief Williams made it clear what his top priority is.

He said, "We want to make sure that we find these chlldren, and, that they are buried properly, with the dignity and respect that they really deserve."

Chief Williams also said investigators will travel back and forth to Kentucky, trying to get as much information as they can.

[Nana29]

I just don't understand.....how could a parent do this and then just go on with their lives. You are at peace now sweet angels.

...and I never will. Heartsick does not even come close to covering how I/we feel. God bless you Natalie and Jonathan....may your mommy find comfort in knowing you are with Jesus.

[klaasend]

http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/local_news/mobile_county/father-says-missing-children-are-dead

Father says missing children are dead

Updated: Friday, 03 Dec 2010, 9:18 PM CST
Published : Friday, 03 Dec 2010, 7:25 PM CST


MOBILE, Alabama (WALA) - The father of two missing children has told Mobile investigators the children are dead. John DeBlase, 27, was taken into police custody on Friday and during a long interview he told investigators where he buried the children.

The police chief says the bodies are within a 100-mile radius of Mobile.

Police said the children, five-year-old Natalie DeBlase and three-year-old Jonathan DeBlase were last seen in Mobile at the Peach Place Inn with their father and stepmother Heather Leavell-Keaton back in July.

"When they moved out of the apartment on Leroy Stevens they gave a forwarding address to Rome, Georgia. We checked with them, they have no history with them or believe they were even there," Officer Chris Levy said.

The children were not reported missing by any family member, but Levy said the department began working on a missing person's case about a week ago.

"We received a call from the Louisville, Kentucky Police Department, stating that a man had walked into the police station up there and told them that there were some kids that were from Mobile that were dead," Levy stated.

Levy said that man was the stepmother's relative.

Friday, police were told that that the children were dead childrens' father admitted it himself.

While he was being escorted to a police cruiser, he told reporters that the stepmother did it.

The stepmother was taken into police custody in Louisville, Kentucky earlier this week.

"We have been able to determine that both of them are responsible for the death of these two children," Mobile Police spokesman Christopher Levy said.

DeBlase is being charged with two counts of aggravated child abuse and two counts of abuse of a corpse.

Keaton is currently being charged with two counts of willful abuse of a child. Police say she will be extradited to Mobile within a week. She could face more charges after she arrives.

"He's given us an indication of a location where they may be, where he remembers burying the children," Mobile Police Chief Michael Williams said.

Investigators are assembling a search party to find the children.

"We want to make sure that we find these children and that they're buried properly," said Chief Williams.

A police spokesman says the charges of abuse of a corpse are in reference to the way these bodies were buried. The officer says it was done without the proper respect that you should give to the deceased.

The childrens' biological mother has spoken with FOX10 News within the past few days, but she was too distraught to speak on Friday evening.

Detectives will continue in the investigation and if anyone has information about this case please call the Mobile Police Department at 208-7211, Crime Stoppers at 208-7000, or text to 274637 and include the keyword CRIME 411.

[Leroy]

http://www.wkrg.com/alabama/article/police-believe-father-buried-his-two-children/1203053/Dec-03-2010_9-35-pm/

Police Believe Father Buried His Two Children



by Steve Alexander
Published: Fri, December 03, 2010 - 9:08 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, December 03, 2010 - 9:35 pm CST


MOBILE, Alabama - Mobile Police arrested John DeBlase Friday night and charged him with two counts of aggravated child abuse, and two counts of abuse of a corpse.

Police believe DeBlase buried his two children, Natalie and Chase.
DeBlaze said the children's stepmother killed them.
Do police believe the children are dead?

Mobile Police Chief Micheal T. Williams said, "Based on what he had told us, we believe that."
So, now begins the search for the children's bodies.

Chief Williams said, "Tomorrow (Saturday), and for the next few days, the investigators will put a team together. They will be out looking for the children, based on what they've been told."

And, based on what police were told, I asked Chief Williams if he believes he knows where the children's bodies are.
He said, "We are not sure exactly, but, he has given us an indication of where they may be, of where he remembers burying the children."

Chief Williams then narrowed it down further.

He said, "We believe, based on what he had said, (their bodies are) within a hundred miles of Mobile."
Detectives have determined that both John DeBlase, and the children's stepmother, Heather Keaton, are responsible for the deaths.

But, who actually killed the children?

Chief Williams said, "I can't say that right now, but, the investigators are contnuing to talk with him, and, at this point, he's somewhat cooperative, so, we want to gain as much information while he's talking to us,"
But, Chief Williams made it clear what his top priority is.

He said, "We want to make sure that we find these chlldren, and, that they are buried properly, with the dignity and respect that they really deserve."

Chief Williams also said investigators will travel back and forth to Kentucky, trying to get as much information as they can.

Is that pic of the father???   He doesn't even look the same as the pics from a few years ago. 

[klaasend]

Leroy - I agree he looks alot different.

[New Monkey]

That part about the woman saying she had stepped in when little Natalie was being beaten with a studded belt just makes my stomach turn.    

RIP, sweet angel babies.  You are with Jesus now and no one can hurt you again. 

[slowsouthernrain]

This really makes me ill.  I live here in Mobile County.  My youngest son lived at this Peach Place for a short while some time ago.  It is a rough place.  You would have to drive thru to get the feel of the place.  Bad, bad, bad.  He got out of there as fast as possible.  It is full of renters by the week.  A rough bunch lives there.  I pray they find these children fast.  I will keep an eye out for news. 

[Shell]

That part about the woman saying she had stepped in when little Natalie was being beaten with a studded belt just makes my stomach turn.    

RIP, sweet angel babies.  You are with Jesus now and no one can hurt you again. 

I am one who thinks there is never a time when it is necessary to physically discipline a child unless it is putting them in time out or taking away tv time etc.

 

[Shell]

The only reason I keep coming back to this site and these stories is for these innocent children that had to endure he77 on earth. Their story and memory needs to go on.

[klaasend]

http://www.wkrg.com/alabama/article/step-mother-he-may-have-murdered-his-children/1203021/Dec-04-2010_7-33-pm/

NEW DEVELOPMENTS Mobile Police and other agencies have been searching in Mississippi for the bodies of 2 missing children.
Jessica Taloney Anchor/ Reporter

MOBILE, Alabama - Saturday 7:06 p.m.
Mobile Police say officers and members of the Gulf Coast Search and Rescue Team were searching this morning in an area just north of Vancleave, Mississippi. Crews started their search at 7:30 and continued throughout the day, officers and dogs were unable to find any trace of the DeBlase children.

News 5 initially believed the children were missing since July, but we have now learned that it's been longer than that. Police believe the children were buried in late June.

Friday 7:30 p.m.
Richard DeBlase learned that police believe his grandchildren are dead while watching the news. Police did not call him before announcing they've charged his son John, the children's father, in connection with their deaths.

“God have mercy on their souls," Richard DeBlase told News 5. "There is no sense in this happening.”

[klaasend]

http://www.wkrg.com/alabama/article/resuming-search-for-deblase-children/1203067/Dec-05-2010_10-13-am/

Resuming Search For DeBlase Children

by Chad Petri
Published: Sun, December 05, 2010 - 10:09 am CST Last Updated: Sun, December 05, 2010 - 10:13 am CST

MOBILE, Alabama - In a news release sent yesterday evening Mobile Police said they’re going to continue searching for the bodies of the two children. Police spokesman Christopher Levy says they will probably not return to Vancleave Mississippi today. Levy hasn’t said where they are going to continue searching.

A member of Gulf Coast Search and Rescue out of Gulfport says they have not been asked for assistance today from MPD. They worked with Mobile Police yesterday according to the news release. The search and rescue team is concentrated on the search for missing hunters in Harrison County as of Sunday morning.

[theboyzmom]

This case just makes me sick. Seems neither parent was able to parent - why not just take the kids to social services and request that they be adopted out? So many people want kids. I hope that pictures of their sweet faces haunt everyone involved for the rest of their miserable lives. 

[klaasend]

http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/local_news/mobile_county/wife-claims-deblase-is-violent-abusive

Wife claims DeBlase is violent, abusive
DeBlase says Leavell-Keaton killed his children

Updated: Sunday, 05 Dec 2010, 9:18 PM CST
Published : Sunday, 05 Dec 2010, 9:18 PM CST

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Jonah Heathcock, the step-father of Natalie and Johnathan DeBlase, had no idea John Deblase could have ever hurt his children. But DeBlase's ex-wife, Heather Leavell-Keaton, claims he was violent. So violent that she filed for an emergency restraining order November 11 in Kentucky.

In the document, she claimed that DeBlase was "A loose cannon and he cannot think rationally. He did not care if I loved him or if I was scared of him."

The report also made claims regarding the DeBlase children.

Leavell-Keaton told police, "I feel he may have murdered his children because they are nonresponsive. I am afraid that he is going to do something to harm our daughter because of what he has done to the other children."

After Keaton filed the report in Kentucky, it wasn't long before they contacted Mobile police.

"The statements she made to police is really what prompted the whole investigation to begin with them contacting us and us beginning our searches," said Officer Chris Levy of the Mobile Police Department.

Police soon discovered that John DeBlase was not the only one who had been reported as abusive.

"We have all of these people coming forward and making claims that they saw the kids getting abused at this time, or this time, but no one has really come forward with this before now," Levy added.

Officer Levy said these claims are the basis of Leavell-Keaton's arrest.

"In the charges against Heather Keaton, a lot of that is going to be based on people seeing her strike the kids with objects and that they had some injuries that probably deserved medical attention that they never received."

As Heathcock continues to monitor the search, he is also thinking about the suspects.

"May god have mercy on their souls."

[Love2Read]

My heart just breaks every time I see or read about these cases.  What the hell is wrong with people?? So sad.

[klaasend]

http://www.wkrg.com/alabama/article/bond-set-for-father-of-missing-children-believed-dead/1203083/Dec-06-2010_11-30-am/



Bond Set For Father Of Missing Children Believed Dead

by Kimberly Curth
Published: Mon, December 06, 2010 - 10:59 am CST Last Updated: Mon, December 06, 2010 - 11:30 am CST

MOBILE, Alabama - Bond is set at $206,000 for John DeBlase, the father of two missing children believed to be dead and buried.

DeBlase was arrested Friday night after he told police he buried the bodies of his children, 5-year-old Natalie and 3-year-old Chase. He's charged with two counts of Aggravated Child Abuse and two counts of Abuse of a Corpse.

Over the weekend, police searched in an area west of Citronelle and a wooded area near Vancleave, Mississippi.

Prosecutors had asked for no bond, calling DeBlase a flight risk.

[klaasend]

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2010/12/sheriff_father_of_missing_chil.html



Sheriff: Missing kids' dad was high on pills when he dumped bodies in Mississippi, Alabama
Published: Monday, December 06, 2010, 11:34 AM     Updated: Monday, December 06, 2010, 12:16 PM


PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- John Joseph DeBlase was high on pills when he dumped the lifeless bodies of his children, one in Citronelle, Ala., and the other in Vancleave, Miss., Jackson County, Miss., Sheriff Mike Byrd said this morning.

"That's what he told us Saturday when he was leading us through a rural area just north of Vancleave," Byrd said of the all-day search that spanned 12 square miles near Miss. 57.

"He said he was messed up on pills when we asked him why he couldn't remember exactly where the child was," Byrd said.

On Sunday, Mobile investigators searched for any sign of Jonathan Chase DeBlase, 3, and his older sister Natalie Alexis DeBlase, 5, for more than 8 hours in the far northwest end of Mobile County.

 
Natalie and Jonathan DeBlase.jpgThe search for 7-year-old Natalie DeBlase (left) and 5-year-old Jonathan DeBlase has intensified following the arrest of their stepmother. The children were last seen in Mobile. (Submitted)

Both searches were unsuccessful.

Byrd said Jackson County investigators have narrowed the area to 2 miles based on information provided by DeBlase.

"We're ready to go and help find these children whenever Mobile police needs us to," Byrd said. He added that the search should resume in Mississippi later this week.

The 2 children haven't been seen since July, when they moved to Kentucky with their father and stepmother.

DeBlase, 27, was apprehended in Milton, Fla., late Thursday by a Santa Rosa County sheriff's deputy responding to a report of a suspicious person, according to previous reports.

DeBlase was brought to Mobile on Friday, where, Mobile police officer Christopher Levy said, he was questioned by Mobile law enforcement, then charged with 2  counts each of aggravated child abuse and abuse of a corpse.

Stepmother Heather Keaton was arrested last week in Louisville, Ky., and faces 2  counts each of willful abuse and neglect of a child, Levy said.

Byrd said Keaton and DeBlase are each accusing the other of killing the children, but both have agreed that the body of at least one of the children was left in Vancleave -- probably the small boy -- and the girl was dumped in Citronelle.

On Wednesday, Keaton waived an extradition hearing and is expected to be brought to Mobile this week, Levy said.

Authorities were alerted in late November that the children were missing after Keaton asked Kentucky police for a restraining order against DeBlase, Levy said. The couple had been living in Louisville, but had separated, Levy said, and DeBlase went to Florida.

Keaton alleged in her complaint to Kentucky police that she was fearful of DeBlase because of events that took place 6 months prior in Mobile, Levy said. She told authorities that the children were killed in Mobile, Levy said.

[klaasend]

Looks to me like he's lost quite a bit of weight in the last couple years.  Certainly due to drug use.