Question Over Custody For Twins Found In Burning Home
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A judge denied bond for the man accused of setting a house on fire, nearly killing two little girls, his nieces.
As the 4-year old girls recuperate, a family court judge decided who to give the girls to.
"Alright, how are the children," asked the family court judge on Friday.
"They're doing good. They're recovering. They're just in the hospital for observation," said a case worker in court.
The girls were not burned but were being held for observation for smoke inhalation.
A family court judge gave temporary custody of the girls to a man who is legally listed as their father.The girls' mother was not in court because she is in jail.
The twins lived in a house in northwest Miami with their maternal grandmother. Her son, their uncle, Bernard Ethridge is accused of setting their house on fire Thursday night, nearly killing his nieces.
Firefighters searched the burning house and heard voices coming from a locked bedroom. Firefighters said they had to break through the bedroom door to get to the girls.
"They could hear voices and breathing in a bedroom that's locked so they knock the door down when they start searching, they find two kids approximately 4 to 5-years old, hiding underneath sheets on the bed," said Assistant Chief Pete Gomez with Miami Fire Rescue."These kids were saved by the grace of God because had they been there a little longer, the fire could have escalated… they breathe more smoke they could have possibly been dead."
Ethridge's mother, Felicia, said Bernard doused his entire room in gasoline and set it on fire. They found he had a canister in the living room with gas still inside.
His mother said she has been fighting with the courts to keep her son in custody for mental treatment.
"My anger is with the court system because my son should have never been released yesterday from mental health court. I plead and I begged with them and they released him," said Felicia.
Bernard has been arrested in the past for battery, burglary and drug possession.
His family said he's been Baker Acted dozens of times but has been released each time.
