Mother, father arrested after 3 children critically injured in fire, SC police say
A South Carolina woman was arrested after her three young children were left alone, in deplorable conditions, and were critically injured in a Monday night house fire, according to Columbia officials.
The children’s mother, Zana Oden, was charged with three counts unlawful conduct toward a child, the Columbia Police Department said in a Tuesday night news release. Mal’k Locke the father of one of the children, was also arrested Wednesday on the same charges.
Oden, who was not at the Floran Street home when the children were rescued by the Columbia Fire Department and later tried to evade arrest by hiding in a closet, could face more charges, according to the release. She also admitted to walking away from the house fire after noticing law enforcement, police said Wednesday at her bond hearing..
Bond was set at $300,000 for the 28-year-old woman who is being held in the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. Locke, 21, had his bond set at $200,000 and is also being held at the Richland County jail, records show.
The young victims
After getting rescued from the house fire, Oden’s children — who are 6, 4 and 2 years old — were taken to a local hospital by Richland County EMS before being transferred to the JMS Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia, the fire department said.
The children suffered severe burns, but are in stable condition and improving as they continue to be treated in the Augusta hospital, Columbia Police Department Deputy Chief Melron Kelly said Wednesday after the bond hearing.
The South Carolina Department of Social Services has also stepped in as the children were living in deplorable conditions even before the fire happened, officials said.
Kelly said Wednesday that the fathers of the other two children have been contacted, but that the children will likely go into emergency custody.
The State recently reported that a child younger than 9 years old should not be left home alone, even for a short period of time, according to Prisma Health Pediatrician Dr. Deborah Greenhouse.
“Our thoughts remain with the children as they fight to recover,” Police Chief Skip Holbrook said in the release. “We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation, holding those responsible accountable and ensuring justice is served.”
The fire
At about 9:30 p.m. Monday, crews responded to the Floran Street home and saw smoke coming from the building, fire department officials said. That’s in a part of Columbia between North Main Street and S.C. 277.
Firefighters forced their way inside the home through the front door and immediately encountered heavy smoke and rapidly deteriorating interior conditions, according to the fire department. The fire was located in the front of the home, officials said.
During a search of the home, firefighters located three children in, and near, several bedrooms, the fire department said. The children were brought outside, provided immediate medical care for severe burn injuries before being taken to medical facilities, according to the fire department.
The fire began near the entrance to the home, according to Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins, though its source remains under investigation. Flames never reached the children, but heat and smoke inhalation caused at least one child to be found unresponsive when firefighters arrived.
While the children were getting rescued, the fire was brought under control, the fire department said.
No other injuries were reported in the incident where more 30 firefighters responded, according to officials.
Criminal investigation
No parent or adult was at the home when the fire department responded to the burning building, police said. Oden was tracked down at an apartment at 100 Ripplemeyer Avenue, according to police. That’s about 2 miles from the home that burned in the fire.
The cause of the fire is being investigated by police, along with the Richland County Fire Marshal and SLED. Suspected arson is being investigated, the fire department said.
“We have a lot of evidence still to go through,” Kelly said. “Anybody that is found to be harboring or helped in this case will have charges brought against them, that’s how serious we got to be about helping our kids. Absolutely defenseless, these children are.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 803-545-3525, CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit tips online.
“This is a heartbreaking incident that has deeply impacted our entire community,” Holbrook said. “We are grateful for the courageous actions of our firefighters, EMS personnel and police officers whose swift response gave these children a chance to survive.”
The bond hearing
The Columbia woman and her ex-boyfriend were set steep bonds Wednesday afternoon after leaving three children, severely injured in a house fire Monday night, unattended for at least a week in filthy conditions
I think I have no more important job in my life than to be a dad,” deputy chief Kelly said. “To know that they stayed home for a week, minimum, by themselves is truly, truly heartbreaking.”
The children’s mother, Oden, and the father of one of the children, Locke, were set $300,000 bond and $200,000 bond, respectively.
Locke was not taken into custody until Wednesday morning, after he revealed in a voluntary police interview he was aware the children were home alone and had been for at least a week.
Text messages obtained during the investigation showed Oden contacted Locke about checking on the children June 24, saying he should look in “before something happens to them,” 5th District Assistant Solicitor Morgan Monroe read aloud to the courtroom.
People attending the hearing bowed their heads and screwed their eyes shut as Monroe detailed the horrible conditions that left the children malnourished and bug-ridden. The lead investigator on the case, Investigator Haley Threatt, said medical personnel found maggots and other bugs in the youngest child’s diaper.
Oden received a higher bond because Judge Renee Lipson was concerned about her ties to New York City, where she lived until two years ago.
If Oden or Locke meet bond, they will be placed effectively on house arrest, only allowed out for select appointments or work, and tracked by GPS monitoring. Neither individual is allowed contact with each other or the children.
“When I say no contact, I mean no contact,” Lipson told the co-defendants. “No phone calls, text messaging, social media. No smoke signals.”
The 45-minute bond hearing was attended by several investigators, including Kelly and Jenkins, as well as Locke’s mother and roommate. Oden represented herself in the hearing, while Locke was represented by a private attorney, Derrick Mobley.
Both defendants will be appointed a public defender prior to their next court date, set for Sept. 25.
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This story was originally published July 1, 2026 at 8:00 AM with the headline "Mother, father arrested after 3 children critically injured in fire, SC police say."
