MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - A man accused of killing his two young
children in Alabama has claimed they died during hours of torture
after being bound with duct-tape by a woman living with him.
But the woman claimed the father, 27-year-old John DeBlase,
killed the children and dumped their bodies in woods of south
Mississippi and Alabama.
The conflicting testimony was given Friday at a preliminary
hearing for DeBlase and his common-law wife, 22-year-old Heather
The judge ruled there was probable cause to send
the case to a grand jury.
DeBlase is charged with murder in the deaths of 3-year-old Chase and 4-year-old Natalie DeBlase. Leavell-Keaton, who is not the biological mother, is charged with aggravated child abuse and abuse
of a corpse.
The hearing included grisly testimony and claims that
Leavell-Keaton called the children "demon spawns from hell."
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)