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DeBlase Children Murders

SOLVED2005Mobile, Alabama, United States3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

Natalie Alexis DeBlase (born November 4, 2005) and Jonathan Chase DeBlase (born December 29, 2006) were the children of John Joseph DeBlase and Corrine Heathcock. Following their parents' divorce, John DeBlase gained custody of the children in June 2009 and began a common-law relationship with Heather Leavell-Keaton, a visually impaired college student. Witnesses later described observing the children being mistreated, including an incident where Leavell-Keaton was seen screaming at and roughly handling the children, and another where Chase appeared severely malnourished and required hospitalization.

According to official and news sources, Natalie died on March 4, 2010, and Chase died on June 20, 2010, after prolonged abuse that included restraint and antifreeze poisoning. The couple disposed of both children's bodies and later relocated from Alabama to Kentucky.

The case came to light in November 2010 after DeBlase was arrested on traffic charges in Kentucky. A subsequent argument between the couple was overheard by Leavell-Keaton's mother, who alerted authorities. Leavell-Keaton, when questioned, said the children had been found unresponsive and their bodies removed from the home; police also suspected her involvement. A search of DeBlase's impounded van turned up photographs of the children, stuffed animals, a duffle bag, and a container of antifreeze. DeBlase later admitted to burying the children's bodies but claimed Leavell-Keaton had killed them.

Searches for the remains began December 3, 2010. Natalie's remains were found near Citronelle, Alabama, on December 11, 2010, and Chase's remains were found near Vancleave, Mississippi, two days later. Autopsies could not determine an exact cause of death, though a pathologist concluded the deaths were consistent with homicidal violence. DeBlase was charged with felony murder and corpse abuse; Leavell-Keaton's charges were later upgraded to capital murder.

DeBlase was tried first. Prosecutors introduced confession letters he had written admitting to killing the children, which he said was to end their suffering at Leavell-Keaton's hands. On November 5, 2014, a jury convicted him of three counts of capital murder, and on November 7, 2014, recommended death by a 10–2 vote. He was formally sentenced to death on January 8, 2015.

Leavell-Keaton was tried separately in 2015. On May 27, 2015, a jury convicted her of capital murder for Chase's death but of reckless manslaughter for Natalie's death. The jury recommended death (11–1) for the capital murder count, and she received an additional 20-year sentence for the manslaughter count; she was formally sentenced on August 20, 2015, becoming the first woman sentenced to death in Mobile County.

Both defendants pursued appeals. DeBlase's appeals were rejected by the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals (2018) and Alabama Supreme Court (2019). Leavell-Keaton's death sentence was initially overturned on procedural grounds in October 2020 and reinstated at a re-sentencing hearing in January 2021; her further appeals were rejected by state courts and, on June 5, 2023, by the U.S. Supreme Court. As of 2025, both remain on death row in Alabama, with no execution dates scheduled.

Key facts

Victims
Jonathan Chase DeBlase, Natalie Alexis DeBlase
Date
2005
Location
Mobile, Alabama, United States
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2005-11-04

    Natalie Alexis DeBlase is born.

  2. 2006-12-29

    Jonathan Chase DeBlase is born.

  3. 2009-06

    John DeBlase gains custody of Natalie and Chase following divorce from Corrine Heathcock.

  4. 2010-03-04

    Natalie DeBlase dies after being restrained, gagged, and poisoned with antifreeze.

  5. 2010-06-20

    Jonathan Chase DeBlase dies after being restrained, gagged, and poisoned with antifreeze.

  6. 2010-11

    John DeBlase is arrested on traffic offenses in Kentucky; family suspicions about the children's fate emerge.

  7. 2010-12-03

    Official search begins for the bodies of Natalie and Chase.

  8. 2010-12-08

    John DeBlase is charged with abuse of a corpse and aggravated assault.

  9. 2010-12-11

    Natalie's remains are found near Citronelle, Alabama.

  10. 2010-12-12

    DeBlase is officially charged with two counts of felony murder and two counts of corpse abuse.

  11. 2010-12-13

    Chase's remains are found near Vancleave, Mississippi.

  12. 2011-01-11

    Heather Leavell-Keaton's charges are upgraded to capital murder.

  13. 2014-10-14

    Jury selection and trial of John DeBlase begins in Mobile County.

  14. 2014-11-05

    Jury finds John DeBlase guilty of three counts of capital murder.

  15. 2014-11-07

    Jury recommends death penalty for DeBlase by 10-2 vote.

  16. 2015-01-08

    John DeBlase is formally sentenced to death.

  17. 2015-05-08

    Heather Leavell-Keaton's trial begins in Mobile County Circuit Court.

  18. 2015-05-27

    Jury finds Leavell-Keaton guilty of capital murder for Chase's death and reckless manslaughter for Natalie's death.

  19. 2015-06-02

    Jury recommends death sentence (11-1) for Leavell-Keaton on the capital murder count.

  20. 2015-08-20

    Leavell-Keaton is formally sentenced to death plus 20 years' imprisonment.

  21. 2018-11-16

    Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals rejects DeBlase's appeal.

  22. 2019-08-24

    Alabama Supreme Court dismisses DeBlase's follow-up appeal.

  23. 2020-10-07

    Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals overturns Leavell-Keaton's death sentence and orders re-sentencing.

  24. 2021-01-07

    Judge reinstates Leavell-Keaton's death sentence at re-sentencing hearing.

  25. 2021-12-17

    Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals upholds Leavell-Keaton's conviction and death sentence.

  26. 2023-06-05

    U.S. Supreme Court dismisses Leavell-Keaton's final appeal, confirming her death sentence.

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People

  • Jonathan Chase DeBlase

    VICTIM

    Three-year-old victim killed June 20, 2010.

  • Natalie Alexis DeBlase

    VICTIM

    Four-year-old victim killed March 4, 2010.

  • Heather Leavell-Keaton

    CONVICTED

    Stepmother/common-law partner of John DeBlase; convicted of capital murder for Chase's death and reckless manslaughter for Natalie's death, sentenced to death (reinstated January 2021) plus 20 years' imprisonment.

  • John Joseph DeBlase

    CONVICTED

    Father of the victims; convicted of three counts of capital murder and sentenced to death on January 8, 2015.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Mobile, Alabama, United States

30.6944, -88.0431

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Natalie and Jonathan "Chase" DeBlase, aged four and three, were killed by their father John DeBlase and his partner Heather Leavell-Keaton in Alabama in 2010 after months of documented abuse; both were later convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death.
Where did the murders happen?
Mobile, Alabama, United States.
Who was convicted?
Heather Leavell-Keaton (Stepmother/common-law partner of John DeBlase; convicted of capital murder for Chase's death and reckless manslaughter for Natalie's death, sentenced to death (reinstated January 2021) plus 20 years' imprisonment.) and John Joseph DeBlase (Father of the victims; convicted of three counts of capital murder and sentenced to death on January 8, 2015.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in Alabama

Sources

  1. DeBlase children murderswikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. Contemporaneous coverage — Heather Leavell-Keaton, Alabama death rownews · Associated Press · 2026-07-07
  3. Contemporaneous coverage — DeBlase children murdersnews · NBC News · 2026-07-07