3rd October, 2024
A 29-year-old woman, Deveca Rose, has been found guilty of manslaughter after a fire killed four young boys in Sutton, London.
The victims were two sets of twins, Bryson and Kyson (4) and Leyton and Logan (3).
Their mother, Rose, 29, was convicted of manslaughter at the Old Bailey on October 3, 2024.
According to the Met Police, on December 16, 2021, Rose left the boys alone at their Collingwood Road home, where the fire broke out.
A passerby alerted neighbours, who attempted to rescue the children but were unable to enter due to the intense flames.
London Fire Brigade, police, and ambulance services responded, but despite their efforts, the boys succumbed to inhalation of fire fumes.
Rose initially claimed she had left the children with a babysitter named “Jade.” However, investigators found no evidence of Jade’s existence. CCTV footage and phone records contradicted Rose’s story, revealing she had gone shopping alone that evening.
Deveca Rose was charged with four counts of manslaughter and child neglect. After a thorough investigation, she was convicted of manslaughter and acquitted of child neglect.
Rose was released on bail until sentencing on November 15.
The boys’ family released a heartfelt statement: “Bryson, Kyson, Leyton, and Logan Hoath were cruelly taken from us in a senseless act of negligence. The impact this has had on us cannot be overstated.”
They expressed gratitude to the courts, jury, and police for ensuring justice was served.
Detective Chief Inspector Samantha Townsend commented, “Deveca Rose’s neglect led to the tragic loss of four young lives. Her invention of a babysitter’s existence only added to the family’s suffering.”
Sentencing for Deveca Rose is set for November 15, 2024.