Albany Man Died From Injuries Suffered in Apartment Fire

Police say the man was developmentally disabled, and unable to escape because his parents locked him inside the apartment.

Agnes Degroot and Nicolaas Degroot Photo: Albany Police

(ALBANY) - A developmentally disabled man died from injuries suffered in an Albany apartment fire Sunday, police say he had been locked inside the residence by his parents.

According to Albany Police, Christopher Degroot was unable to escape the fire because his parents had locked him inside the apartment earlier that morning when they left him alone. 48-year old Agnes Degroot and 45-year old Nicolaas Degroot had previously installed a dead bolt lock on the front door that required a key to unlock from the inside and had placed locks on the windows. Investigators say the key was not left in the interior lock as a matter of practice by Agnes and Nicolaas Degroot.

Albany Fire first got the call around 10:44 AM Sunday, Albany Police Department joined in the response to the apartment fire at 730 SE 5th Avenue #3. The fire was confined to apartment #3 and extinguished by the Albany Fire Department. An investigation was started as the cause of the fire, which started in the living room, was deemed to be suspicious.

Christopher Degroot was home alone at the time of the fire. He was taken by life flight to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland with serious injuries sustained in the fire. On the afternoon of Friday, May 19, 2006, Christopher Degroot died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the fire.

On Friday at approximately 7:50 PM, Albany Police Detectives arrested Nicolaas Degroot and Agnes Degroot voluntarily came to the Albany Police Department for questioning. Both were lodged in the Linn County Jail on charges of Arson in the First Degree and Manslaughter in the Second Degree.

Anyone with information involving this case is asked to contact the Detective Section of the Albany Police Department at (541) 917-7686.