Police Finally Arrest Fugitive Parents Who Fled House Fire Where Daughter Died

After two months of a manhunt, the fugitive parents who disappeared from their Georgia home following a house fire that killed their 10-year-old daughter were arrested by the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office Wednesday, June 29.

William McCue, 47, and Carina McCue, 38, are now in custody after they were discovered at the Appalachian Trail. Authorities have been looking for the parents since they fled in May when firefighters and investigators found their actual living conditions and gathered enough evidence against the parents.

The McCrue couple is facing charges of false imprisonment and child cruelty as they have been accused of depriving their five children of nutrition, hygiene, medical care, and education per 11Alive. Authorities also said that the kids were not allowed to leave their house and did not even know how to use basic items like toilet paper.

The Neglected Children

The couple's 15-year-old son, who was found at a church in Rockdale County, confessed to starting the fire. He has been taken into custody and charged with arson and the murder of his sister, Zoe.

The body of Zoe was discovered in a makeshift bed that appeared to be a bathtub inside a windowless room. Further investigations revealed that the kids were not treated well, and their house was also neglected, especially the toilet and the showers.

The cops said that the fugitive parents had their kids use "improvised camping-style toilets" discovered on the property, per the Daily Beast. A social worker told the court that there is evidence to suggest that the children have been deprived of their basic needs. The kids also presented bitemarks and whip marks on their bodies.

After collecting evidence against the parents, the sheriff issued the arrest warrant, but William and Carina disappeared.

Timothy Wisniewski, the father of Carina, who is based in New York, told the authorities that he had no clue about his grandchildren's situation. He saw them a few times every couple of years, but he hasn't been inside the house since 2014 or 2015.

The grandfather also said that he brought his grandchildren ice cream during one visit, and they did not look unkempt. Thus, Wisniewski saw no reason to suspect that the children were neglected.

Reclusive Parents Filed for Divorce Twice

The family's neighbors for many years said that William and Carina, as well as the kids, were quite reclusive. The neighbor spoke to the McCrue couple just twice this whole time they've been living on the same street.

Wisniewski expressed shock about his daughter's arrest because he knew Carina was a good person. He said that he never liked William and described his son-in-law as someone who was easily upset and who had this attitude that everyone was out to get him, per Daily Mail.

The fugitive parents filed for divorce in 2010 and 2019 but ended up reconciling. They owned "fairly new, nice-looking vehicles," so Wisniewski did not think they lived in such horrific conditions. The father also said that his daughter knew she could always ask for help from him.

Meanwhile, it's still unclear if the murder charges against McCrue's 15-year-old son will be dismissed now that the parents are in police custody.