Parents Now Face First-Degree Manslaughter For Son's Death

Nicolaas and Agnes Degroot Photos: Linn County Sheriff

(ALBANY) - The Linn County District Attorney`s Office says it will now charge the parents of an autistic teenager from Albany with First Degree Manslaughter, after their son died in an alleged arson fire that killed him on Mothers Day.

Investigators say 19-year old Christopher Degroot was home at the time of the fire. Dead bolts had been placed on the apartment`s door, windows were locked closed, and there was no routine practice of leaving the dead bolt key in an accessible place, say investigators.

He was unable to escape the blaze because he had been locked inside the apartment by his parents, say Albany Police.

Agnes and Nicolaas Degroot remain in the Linn County Jail. The couple also faces a charge each of First Degree Arson, in addition to First-Degree Manslaughter.

The parents are both due back in Linn County Court on June 5th.