Arguing Couple Allegedly Set Home on Fire with Their 5 Minor Children Inside: Police

Dale and Aubree Oneal are facing several charges including child endangerment and conspiracy

NEED TO KNOW

• Dale and Aubree Oneal alleged “actions” led to a fire being set in their upstate New York home
• Their five children, all under 17, were inside the home and managed to escape
• The couple are facing reckless endangerment and child welfare charges while Aubree faces an arson charge

A couple in New York State have been arrested in connection with a fire at their home while their minor children were inside.

Dale Oneal, 49, and his wife Aubree Oneal, 47, have been arrested on several charges in connection with the incident on Saturday, July 18, in Onondaga County, N.Y., according to online court and jail records reviewed by PEOPLE.

Investigators at the Manlius Police Department allege the couple “took actions” that led to a fire being intentionally set inside their home in the village of Minoa, according to Syracuse.com and CNY Central. The couple’s five children, all under the age of 17, were inside the residence at the time of the fire, per police.

Dale eventually extinguished the fire and the whole family managed to escape, CNY Central reported. While responding to a subsequent dispute, police allegedly found Aubree “intoxicated,” MPD said.

No physical injuries were reported, according to both outlets.

Neighbors told CNY Central that the fire moved fast. Debbie Narovella and John Sobotka Jr. were out on their porch when Narovella noticed the flames on the Oneals’ porch.

“We looked and before we could even call 911, it had gone all the way up through the roof,” Sobotka told the outlet.

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Aubree and Dale have both been charged with reckless endangerment, endangering a child and conspiracy, according to jail records.

Aubree has also been charged with arson, and her bail has been at $100,000, according to online records, which do not show her plea information. Her attorney declined to comment when contacted by PEOPLE.

Dale’s online docket was not available as of Thursday afternoon, and it’s not clear if he has entered pleas or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.

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