Make wishtv.com your home page

Father of twin boys pleads guilty in connection to their deaths

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) – The father of young twin boys killed in a Tippecanoe County house fire pleads guilty in connection with their deaths.

Brandon Abbott faces up to 70 years in prison. Sentencing is set to take place just 4 days after the anniversary of the fire.

WISH-TV sister station WLFI reported that 32-year-old Abbott had been initially charged with 13 counts in November with the most serious being two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in death. In exchange for pleading guilty to those two charges Tuesday, the other charges will be dropped.

The fire broke out on the 10,000 block of Brandy Kay Court April 5 of last year. That’s about two miles northwest of Mulberry. Three-year-old twin boys, Landon and Liam, were trapped inside the home.

Their mother told us that Abbott had only had visitation rights for about a month.

Abbott told investigators that he had been drinking and used prescription drugs and marijuana the night before the fire. While the cause was not determined, investigators said a propane canister with a torch exploded in the same room where they believe the fire started.

In court documents, Abbott said he used the torch to smoke marijuana.

He has a criminal record already that includes domestic violence and marijuana offenses.

Sentencing is set for April 9. Abbott faces between 55 to 70 years in prison.