By admin 
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS/Gray News) – A mother and father are facing charges after three young children were left home alone during a fire late Monday, police said.
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According to the Columbia Police Department, 28-year-old Zana Oden faces three counts of unlawful conduct of a child. She appeared in court for a bond hearing Wednesday alongside 21-year-old Mali’K Locke, who faces three counts of unlawfully placing a child at risk.
Oden’s daughters, ages 6, 4 and 2, were alone at a home that caught fire on Floran Street. Locke is the father of one of the children.
Crews with the Columbia-Richland Fire Department say they arrived at the scene at about 9:30 p.m. Monday, forced entry through the front door, and found smoke coming from the home.
During the search, firefighters reportedly found the three children in and near bedrooms.
The children were taken to the JMS Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia, for treatment. Officials said Wednesday that the children suffered “severe burn injuries” but were listed in critical but stable condition.
“It’s almost like they were limp because I thought they inhaled a lot of smoke,” Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins said. “I was irate because these are innocent kids, and somebody should have been there to take care of these kids.”
Officials say the fire was quickly put out. Jenkins said the home was significantly damaged in the blaze, and no other adults were found at the scene when firefighters responded.
Jenkins also described a cockroach infestation inside the home.
“They were absolutely horrible. I mean, we’re talking about big roaches, cockroaches, an army of roaches inside. They were all over the place and getting all over these kids,” he said.
The children’s mother was arrested Tuesday afternoon and, even after knowing about the fire, did not contact law enforcement.
Oden was found less than a mile away from the home on Tuesday. When officers attempted to take her into custody, they said Oden tried to evade arrest by hiding inside a closet within an apartment. It’s unclear where she was when the fire took place.
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“Even after knowing what had happened here, she still did not contact law enforcement,” CPD Deputy Chief Melron Kelly said.
During a bond hearing for both Oden and Locke, prosecutors said the children had been left home alone for at least a week before the fire. No one had checked on them during that period of time, and a neighbor reported not having seen Oden for a month.
Prosecutors also said the youngest child was found very malnourished and did not have any food. One of the children also reportedly had insects in her diaper. A police report stated an officer noted the home was in “disrepair” and that Oden kept the home in a state that was “not safe for the physical and mental development of the victims.”
A victim’s advocate said that Oden admitted to leaving the home last week, but said she tried to come back. She then left again after seeing a large police presence in the area. Oden was granted a $300,000 bond.
Locke’s attorney argued that his client had no prior arrests and didn’t have a way to get to the home. He was later granted a $200,000 bond.
CPD investigators are working to determine the circumstances that led to the incident. Investigators are also speaking with the parents of the other children.
Upon release from the hospital, officials said the children will be placed in emergency custody with the South Carolina Department of Social Services.
“These kids were absolutely defenseless against the flames and the smoke,” Kelly said. “So we’re going to make sure she stands to be judged in the court of law.”
The investigation is being conducted in coordination with the Columbia-Richland Fire Department fire marshal’s office and SLED.