An early morning fire in Catoosa Dec. 15 led to the arrest of two individuals for meth cooking and child endangerment.

The fire destroyed a home at 77 Helen Avenue in Rossville. Catoosa County Sheriff Phil Summers said the fire was most likely accidental and caused by a space heater, but during the investigation authorities discovered methamphetamine and an apparent meth lab.

Summers said Randy Lamar Boles, 39, and Newana Faye Mavity, 35, were charged with manufacturing meth and reckless conduct involving the manufacturing of meth and endangering their two children, ages 13 and 6.

“Fortunately, the two adults and two children escaped unharmed from the fire, but unfortunately for the adults, they now face criminal charges in this investigation,” Summers said.

In July, Georgia became the last state in the country to enact a child endangerment law, which makes it a felony to cook meth with children in the home.

Both suspects are being held at the Catoosa County Detention Center without bond as of Thursday.

Although authorities do not attribute the Dec. 15 fire to meth cooking, in June 2001, 15-month old Shelton Hicks died from injuries caused by a meth-related house fire in the county’s Lakeview community.

While the infant’s father, Chris Pierre Hicks, was cooking a pot of meth, it exploded in the couple's home, severely burning the infant. The younger Hicks died four months later in a hospital.

Both Shelton’s father and mother, Suzette Marie Calloway, are currently serving a life sentence for felony murder.

Catoosa County Coroner Vanita Hullander said Hicks’ death was a “catapult” for adding the meth-related sections to the state’s child endangerment law.

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