The couple were charged with manslaughter in a fire last September in California, USA, which was triggered by a pyrotechnic device that gave off smoke during a child gender revelation party at a park in Ukipe.
These devices usually emit blue or pink smoke to determine the sex of the unborn baby. In this case, the device caused a large, booming firethat became known as the “El Dorado Fire” east of San Bernardino during a record heatwave that peaked in southern California.
More than 500 firefighters and four helicopters were deployed to extinguish the fire that destroyed nearly 3,000 hectares of forest and killed US Forest Service firefighter Charles Morton. Two more firefighters and 13 others were injured in the fire that forced hundreds of people to flee and destroyed five houses.
Tuesday afternoon US authorities announced charges of the involuntary murders of Refugio Manuel Jimenez Jr. and Angelina Rene Jimenez due to fire, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The couple were also charged with three counts of irresponsible arson with serious bodily harm, four counts of negligence in setting fire to residential buildings, and 22 cases of recklessness or recklessness in setting fire to another person’s property, according to San Bernardino County. law firm.
At a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Attorney Jason Anderson said the defendants appeared in court on the same day and both pleaded not guilty. Both were released without bail.
“At least six agencies were involved in localizing, extinguishing and investigating the fire in Eldorado,” Anderson said. “I would like to personally thank the US Forestry Service, Cal Fire, the San Bernardino County Fire Department, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Murder Investigation Unit and the City of Ucaipa,” he added.
Anderson also thanked the public for their patience in investigating and handling the case, saying he is aware that many community members may have been disappointed with the pace of the investigation.
