Mother Arrested in Fire-Related Death of 11-Year-Old Boy
<p class="p1"><strong>BEAUREGARD PARISH-</strong> The Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal has arrested a Singer woman in connection with the overnight, fire-related death of her 11-year-old son.</p><p class="p1">Jenny Rebecca Stafford, 41, was booked into the Beauregard Parish Jail on one count of Negligent Homicide. Additionally, the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office placed Stafford under arrest for one count each of Possession of Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substances and Drug Paraphernalia.</p><p class="p2">Beauregard Fire District 1 responded to the call about an 11-year-old trapped in a camper fire around 1:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 25 in the 2300 block of South Smokey Cove Road in Singer. </p><p class="p1">Firefighters later discovered the body of the child in a bedroom. Official identification of the child is pending with the parish Coroner’s Office.</p><p class="p1">The investigation into the origin and cause of the fire is still on-going. Investigators have confirmed there were no working smoke detectors in the home.</p><p class="p1">In an interview with investigators, Stafford, the child’s mother, admitted to leaving the sleeping child unattended in order to go next door to do drugs. Despite being feet away from the camper, Stafford became aware of the fire only after being alerted by an acquaintance who discovered the smoke and flames upon their arrival in the area.</p><p class="p1">Stafford was then placed under arrest.</p><p class="p1">We are now at a count of six fatal fires in our state in a week-and-a-half’s time; three of those have involved the deaths of children. The LAOSFM strongly urges families to recognize the life-saving difference that smoke alarms can make in a fire emergency.</p><p class="p1">Our agency partners with local fire departments and districts to provide FREE smoke alarm installations at any time of the year through our Operation Save-A-Life program. </p><p class="p1">Visit <a href="http://lasfm.org/">lasfm.org</a> for more information on the program.</p>