Father Sentenced To 4 Years In Children’s Deaths

HOUMA, La. (AP) — A man whose two young children died in a March 15 house fire in Houma has been sentenced to four years in prison.

The Courier reports 22-year-old Romell Welsh Sr. pleaded guilty this week to two counts of negligent homicide in the deaths of 2-year-old Romell Welsh Jr. and 1-year-old Ro'Miya Welsh.

Authorities say the children were killed after burning clothing was left in a kitchen trash can. Detectives believe they were left alone about a half-hour before the blaze started about 1:30 a.m.

The children's mother, Vaneshia Valentine, had also pleaded guilty to negligent homicide before Welsh's trial. She was also sentenced to four years in prison.

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