Thursday, July 13, 2006

Case of Doron Silverman

Case of Doron Silverman


West Carrollton, OH
Dayton, OH
Marion County, Indiana

This page is dedicated to the memory of Keylee Silverman and Mikel Silverman 

When Doron was 13, he was convicted of molesting a 5-year-old neighbor. Years later he charged with sexually abusing one of his sons, convicted murdering two of his child and of another sexual assault

A female relative of Doron's also disclosed to the police that he had also abused her when they were children.

There are several people who go by the name of Doron Silverman. The individual discussed on this page was born on January 7, 1981.

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Disclaimer: Inclusion in this website does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement. Individuals must decide for themselves if the resources meet their own personal needs.

Table of Contents:

2006
  1. Mom sought after baby found dead in fire (07/13/2006) 
  2. Agency was within hours of removing kids from the home (07/14/2006) 
  3. Woman accused of setting fire that killed 4-month-old and burn (07/14/2006) 
  4. 4-year-old son remains critically burned at Cincinnati hospital (07/15/2006) 
  5. Fire victims' dad jailed on rape charge (07/16;//2006) 
  6. Silverman surrenders after being charged with rape  (07/16/2006) 
  7. Second child dead after suspected arson fire (07/16;//2006) 
  8. Police say woman admitted she set fatal fire (07/17/2006) 
  9. Father pleads not guilty to rape charge; bond set for mother (07/17/2006) 
  10. Fire Victims' Parents Jailed; Bond Set (07/17/2006) 
  11. Father Surrenders Following Death Of Two Children (07/17/2006) 
  12. Rape charge filed against father of children killed in suburban Dayton fire (07/17/2006) 
  13. Nephew's sexual curiosity triggered aunt's alarm (07/18/2006) 
  14. Documents say mom described starting fire (07/18/2006) 
  15. Court Documents Reveal Parents' Confessions (07/18/2006)

2013
  1. Ohio Sex Offender Registry (12/31/2013)
Also See:

  1. Case of Heather Silverman
  2. Cases 
  3. Domestic Violence in Jewish Homes
  4. Incest in Jewish Homes


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Mom sought after baby found dead in fire
By Cathy Mong and Lisa Scott Staff Writers
Dayton Daily News, OH - July 13, 2006

Doron Silverman - 2006
WEST CARROLLTON | Police just before midnight issued an alert for area law enforcement officers in southwest Ohio to stop a mother for questioning in a house fire Thursday that left her 4-month-old daughter dead and her 4-year-old son in critical condition with burns.

They want to question Heather Silverman regarding the fire at 642 Maple Hill Drive in which Keylee Silverman perished and Mikel Silverman suffered second- and third-degree burns over much of the front of his body.

Fire Chief Jack Keister said the body of Keylee Silverman, born March 6 to Doron and Heather Silverman, was found alongside a destroyed "pumpkin seat" in a back hallway near a bathroom where the fire was contained. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The boy was moved by helicopter to Shriners Burns Hospital in Cincinnat.

Firefighters arrived at the one-story brick ranch-style home four minutes after being called about the blaze at 12:47 p.m. When firefighters arrived, Keister said, Mikel was lying in the front yard of a house across the street from the Silverman house.

He said the boy was not crying but seemed to be in shock. Heather Silverman also was outside when firefighters arrived. She suffered minor burns to her hands and was taken to Sycamore Hospital where she was treated and released before driving to Cincinnati to be with her son. She and Doron were expected to return to the house Thursday night, but did not, police said.

Keister said police also talked with Doron Silverman, who was not home.

State fire marshal's office and West Carrollton police investigators looked for what might have caused the blaze . A canine trained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to alert on hydrocarbon accelerants roamed areas of the house, Keister said.

He did not say what, if anything, was found that would indicate whether a petroleum product was found that could have started the blaze. He said investigators want to be sure. "There are a lot of variables" that could explain the fire's origins, Keister said.

Keister said it appeared the mother was preparing to take a bath or shower and had candles in the bathroom. It was not clear if the candles were burning at the time of the fire, he said.

He estimated damage from the fire at $45,000, and noted the house, which the couple bought in 2003, recently had drywall and carpet installed.

The autopsy is scheduled for today, according to the Montgomery County Coroner's Office.

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Nephew's sexual curiosity triggered aunt's alarm
Relatives and authorities tried to intervene before children died in West Carrollton house fire.
By Lou Grieco Staff Writer
Dayton Daily News, OH - July 18, 2006


WEST CARROLLTON — Batya Silverman was drying off her nephew, Mikel, after a dip in the swimming pool when the 4-year-old asked if she wanted to perform a sex act on him.
Stunned, she and her boyfriend questioned the boy about where he learned that.

From television? No, Mikel answered.

Did he see his parents doing that? No, the boy said.

"Daddy did it," Mikel said, according to documents released Monday by West Carrollton police.

Less than two months later, Mikel and his 4-month-old sister, Keylee, were dead, victims of a fire Thursday at their home at 642 Maple Hill Drive.


Parents charged; one with murder, the other with rape
Heather Silverman - 2006
Their mother, Heather R. Silverman, is charged with murder and aggravated arson. A municipal judge set a $1 million bond for her Monday morning.

The same judge set a $500,000 bond for the children's father, Doron C. Silverman, 25, who is charged with rape of a child younger than 10.

The blaze killed the couple's 4-month-old daughter, Keylee, whose body was found by firefighters inside the home. Mikel, 4, escaped from the house, but he died Saturday at Shriners Burns Hospital in Cincinnati.

The events that led to the fire started on May 27, when Mikel was visiting his aunt at her Indianapolis apartment and started making strange statements, according to the records released Monday, which include statements from Mikel's parents, his aunt and her boyfriend.

Mikel made his statements while his parents attended the Indianapolis 500. When questioned, Mikel implicated his father, but also said he didn't want to talk about it.

The next day, his aunt and her boyfriend tried again. The boy went further, offering more details of sexual acts between himself and his father.

When the boyfriend asked, "Is this a secret?" the boy replied, "Yes, no more talk."

His aunt told him she loved him and that he would not get into trouble.

"No, I do get in trouble," Mikel replied.


Father convicted of molesting neighbor when he was 13
Doron's family became concerned. When Doron was 13, he was convicted of molesting a 5-year-old neighbor, who told police he sexually assaulted her, according to juvenile court records from Marion County, Indiana.

A female relative of Doron's has also told West Carrollton police he abused her when they were children.

The family's response was to organize an intervention. When Doron and Heather returned from the race to Doron's parents' home, they found his sister Batya, his adoptive parents, DeAnn and Martin Silverman, and his biological mother, Cindy Rottinghouse.

Doron didn't deny Mikel's statements. When asked by his wife, he responded, "Maybe I did. I don't remember these things," according to a statement Batya Silverman sent to police.

"The conclusion of the day's events was that Doron could not be alone with his children," Batya Silverman's statement said.

Rottinghouse agreed to take the children while Doron got psychological help. But the family did not tell authorities.

While the intervention occurred, Batya Silverman's boyfriend, Joseph Farber, and a female friend watched Mikel at a Starbucks. Mikel started grabbing at Farber's pants around his crotch, according to a statement Farber sent to police.

When he told Mikel he shouldn't do that to anyone, and no one should do it to him, "he lowered his head and appeared ashamed, and then became angry, making a mean face and forming fists," according to Farber's statement. "This was extremely unusual behavior for Mikel."


Aunt contacts authorities, safety plan is put in place
Batya Silverman contacted Montgomery County Children Services on June 6 after she learned from her parents that Rottinghouse had returned the children to their West Carrollton home. That call triggered the investigations by Children Services and West Carrollton police.

Neither Rottinghouse nor Batya Silverman were available for comment Monday.

Children Services put a safety plan in place that day. One of the rules: Doron was not allowed in the house. Doron moved to a nearby hotel. Later, he would move to Columbus.
Heather, however, told police she did not believe the allegations against Doron, and when police searched her home June 21, Heather accused them of intimidating Mikel.

During the search, police took computer equipment and a video camera that was in Mikel's room. The camera, which was on the ceiling, pointed at his bed.

Heather told police this was a monitoring device because Mikel liked to sneak out of bed.
During an interview with police, Doron said that he had moved out of his parents house when he was 16 because he did not get along with his adoptive mother. He lived with a local rabbi for about a year, he told police.

He told police about his molestation conviction, but said the girl was 10, and that they were merely showing their privates to each other. His lawyer talked him into making a plea, even though the conduct was innocent childplay, he told police.

He also made several statements, some contradictory, about sexual contact with his son, according to a record of the interview.

The documents released including a written statement by Doron, in which he admits to sexual contact with Mikel while bathing with the boy.

He also told police he was thinking about changing jobs, since his work at Chuck E. Cheese put him into contact with children and he was disturbed by his sexual thoughts. He also said he was annoyed by "those young girls wearing next to nothing," according to the record of the interview.

Prosecutors approved a gross sexual imposition charge against Doron on July 10, which was to be presented to a Montgomery County grand jury. Three days later, a fire killed his daughter and fatally injured his son.

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Documents say mom described starting fire
By Lou Grieco and Rob Modic Staff Writers
Dayton Daily News, OH - July 18, 2006


WEST CARROLLTON | The mother of two children who died following a house fire Thursday admitted to police Friday that she set the fire with gasoline, rags and a candle, according to a court document filed Monday.

Heather R. Silverman, 24, told police she disconnected smoke detectors in her home at 642 Maple Hill Drive, then placed gasoline-soaked rags around a candle on the floor of her bathroom, Detective Robert Bell said in an affidavit for a search warrant approved Friday by a Montgomery County common pleas judge.

"Silverman shut the door and kicked the candle over unto (sic) the rags to ignite the fire," Bell said. "The fire got out of control and she opened the bathroom door to the sound of her son yelling."

Silverman's 4-month-old daughter, Keylee, died Thursday at the scene. Keylee's brother Mikel, 4, died Saturday at a Cincinnati hospital.

Bell filed the affidavit as part of a search warrant seeking to obtain blood and urine of Heather Silverman. Bell said he was seeking to corroborate the mother's story that she had taken Tylenol PM and doses of prescription drugs for anxiety and depression that day that were larger than had been prescribed.

Heather Silverman is charged with murder and aggravated arson. A municipal judge set $1 million bail for her Monday. Her husband, Doron C. Silverman, 25, is charged of rape of a child younger than 10, the victim being his son. The judge set his bond at $500,000.

The bodies of the children have been released to Dennis George Funeral Home near Cincinnati. An employee at the funeral home said the arrangements would be private.

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Police say woman admitted she set fatal fire
By Lou Grieco , Rob Modic Staff Writer
Dayton Daily News, OH - July 17, 2006

MIAMISBURG — Heather R. Silverman "admitted setting a fire at her residence" that killed her children and described how she placed rags soaked in gasoline around a candle in her bathroom, kicked over the candle and pulled the door shut, a West Carrollton detective said in an affidavit filed Monday.

"The fire got out of control and she opened the bathroom door to the sound of her son yelling which resulted in the fatality and (critical) injuries to her children," Detective Robert Bell said in the affidavit.

The blaze killed the couple's 4-month-old daughter, Keylee, whose body was found by firefighters inside the home.

The couple's son, Mikel, 4, escaped from the house, but he died Saturday at Shriners Burns Hospital in Cincinnati.

Bell sought a judge's permission to take blood and urine samples from Heather Silverman on Friday to check her story that she had taken more than prescribed dosages of either Efexor or Adavan and Tylenol PM. Silverman also described how she had earlier disconnected smoke detectors in her home before setting the fire, the document said.

A municipal judge set a $1 million bond Monday morning for Silverman and a $500,000 bond for her husband, Doron C. Silverman. Heather Silverman, 24, is charged with murder and aggravated arson. Her husband, 25, is charged with rape of a child younger than 10, according to court officials.

Both bonds are for the full amount, court officials said. On some occasions suspects are allowed to post a percentage of their bonds.

The murder count for Heather Silverman concerns the death of Keylee. Police said Saturday they would pursue another murder count concerning Mikel's death.

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Fire victims' dad jailed on rape charge
By Cathy Mong, Rob Modic and Kelli Wynn 
Dayton Daily News - July 16, 2006


DAYTON | Doron C. Silverman, the father of two children who died as a result of a Thursday fire at their home, voluntarily surrendered Sunday afternoon at the Montgomery County Jail after West Carrollton detectives charged him with rape, Silverman's attorney said.

Silverman, 25, was being held without bail at the Montgomery County Jail, where detectives took his wife shortly after her arrest early Friday at the Shriners Burns Hospital in Cincinnati.

Heather Silverman, 24, was charged Friday with murder and aggravated arson in the death of her 4-month-old daughter, Keylee, at their home at 642 Maple Hill Drive, West Carrollton.

Doron Silverman remained free long enough to attend the death of 4-year-old Mikel with the permission of Judge Nick Kuntz of Juvenile Court, Silverman's attorney, Frank Malocu, said.

"I think he was holding Mikel's hand when he died," Malocu said.

Malocu said he has received no evidence from West Carrollton police about the charge against Silverman although police have been investigating the allegations against the father since June 6, when Montgomery County Children Services opened a case on the complaint.

Police said in a sworn affidavit to a search warrant that Doron Silverman admitted engaging in sex acts with his son.

Batya Silverman, daughter of the family who adopted Doron, said Mikel was visiting her the last weekend of May at her Indianapolis apartment when he stunned her with information suggesting he had been molested by his father.

Batya, 23, a senior social work major at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, said she told her mother.

Batya painted a picture of Heather and Doron as parents who were cold and aloof, manipulative and emotionally needy, a mother and father who never bonded with their children.

"Neither of them deserved a child so exceptional," Batya said.

"Mikel was bright. He was good. He was the delight of our lives and I would have done anything for him. I would have gone there and died for him."

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Silverman surrenders after being charged with rape
By Cathy Mong, Rob Modic, Kelli Wynn
Dayton Daily News - July 16, 2006


DAYTON — Doron C. Silverman, the father of two children who died as a result of a Thursday fire at their home, voluntarily surrendered Sunday afternoon at the Montgomery County Jail after West Carrollton detectives charged him with rape, Silverman's attorney said.

Silverman, 25, was being held without bail at the Montgomery County Jail, where detectives took his wife shortly after her arrest early Friday at the Shriners Burns Hospital in Cincinnati.

Heather Silverman, 24, was charged Friday with murder and aggravated arson in the death of her 4-month-old daughter, Keylee, at their home at 642 Maple Hill Drive, West Carrollton.

Silverman remained free long enough to attend the death of 4-year-old Mikel with the permission of Judge Nick Kuntz of Juvenile Court, Silverman's attorney, Frank Malocu, said.

"I think he was holding Mikel's hand when he died," Malocu said.

Malocu said he has received no evidence from West Carrollton police about the charge against Silverman although police have been investigating the allegations against the father since June 6 when Montgomery County Children Services opened a case on the complaint.

Police said in a sworn affidavit to a search warrant that Doron Silverman admitted engaging in sex acts with his son.

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Father pleads not guilty to rape charge; bond set for mother
Associated Press
Akron Beacon Journal, OH - July 17, 2006

WEST CARROLLTON, Ohio - Minutes after a woman appeared in court on charges of setting a house fire that killed her 4-year-old son and 4-month-old daughter, her husband pleaded not guilty to engaging in sexual conduct with the boy.

Miamisburg Municipal Judge Robert Messham set bond of $500,000 for Doron Silverman, 25, and $1 million for his wife, Heather Silverman. She is charged with murder and aggravated arson.

Heather Silverman stood silent during arraignment and did not enter a plea, but Messham later entered a plea of not guilty for her.

She was charged Friday, a day after the fire at the family's house in this Dayton suburb. An accelerant was used in the fire, officials said.

The fire started about two hours before a court hearing on a motion by children services to take temporary custody of the children.

The couple's 4-month-old daughter, Keylee Silverman, died in the fire and her 4-year-old brother, Mikel Silverman, died Saturday at Shriners Hospital in Cincinnati. His father was holding his hand when he died, according to Doron Silverman's lawyer, Frank Malocu.

According to an affidavit filed by West Carrollton Detective Robert Bell, Heather Silverman admitted setting the fire. Bell said she told investigators she disconnected both smoke detectors in the home, took more than the prescribed dosage of some medication and went into the bathroom with a can of gasoline and some oily and gasoline-soaked rags, which she laid around a candle on the floor.

Bell said she told investigators she closed the bathroom door behind her and kicked the candle over to ignite the rags. She said the fire got out of control and she opened the bathroom door to the sound of her son yelling, Bell wrote.

Police have been investigating Doron Silverman since June 6, when Montgomery County Children Services opened a case on a complaint against the family.

According to an affidavit filed by Bell in that case, Silverman admitted engaging in sexual conduct with a child under the age of 10. Doug Woodard, deputy police chief of West Carrollton, said the victim was Silverman's son.

Malocu said he has not seen any documentation to support the charge against his client.

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Fire Victims' Parents Jailed; Bond Set
WHIOtv.com, Ohio - July 17, 2006

WEST CARROLLTON, Ohio -- The parents of two children killed in a house fire in West Carrollton appeared before a judge on Monday morning. Heather Silverman is charged with murder and arson. Doron Silverman is accused of rape.

A judge set bond at $1 million for Heather Silverman and $500,000 for Doron Silverman after they both entered a plea of not guilty. Heather was charged with aggravated arson and murder in connection with the death of her children.

Investigators said 4-month-old Keylee Silverman was killed in a fire that consumed the family's home on Thursday. Her brother, Mikel Silverman, died two days later from injuries he suffered in the fire, police said.

Investigators said Heather Silverman is accused of setting the home on fire.
Doron Silverman was charged was charged with rape in connection with alleged sexual contact with his 4-year-old son, police said.
Authorities said they expect to file another charge of murder against Heather Silverman.

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Father Surrenders Following Death Of Two Children
WHIOtv.com, Ohio - July 17, 2006

WEST CARROLLTON, Ohio -- Police in West Carrollton said the father of two children who were killed in a house fire last week has turned himself in.

Doron Silverman faces rape charges. Silverman is the father of a 4-month-old girl and 4-year-old boy who died of injuries from a house fire in West Carrollton on Thursday.

Silverman's wife, Heather, is behind bars and charged with arson and murder. Police said she set the house of fire.

Investigators said Doron Silverman turned himself in around 6 p.m. Sunday.

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Rape charge filed against father of children killed in suburban Dayton fire
Associated Press
Columbus Dispatch - July 17, 2006


WEST CARROLLTON, Ohio — A man whose wife has been accused of setting a house fire that killed the couple's two young children has been jailed on a rape charge, officials said.
Doron Silverman, 25, voluntarily surrendered yesterday, lawyer Frank Malocu said. He was being held without bail at the Montgomery County jail and scheduled for a video arraignment this morning, a jail officer said.

Silverman's wife, Heather Silverman, 24, was charged Friday with murder and aggravated arson in the fire a day before at the family's house in this Dayton suburb. An accelerant was used in the fire, officials said.

The couple's daughter, 4-month-old Keylee Silverman, died in the fire and her brother, 4-year-old Mikel Silverman, died Saturday at Shriners Hospital in Cincinnati.

West Carrollton police have said they will seek an additional murder charge against Heather Silverman today.

Detectives were not available this morning to answer questions about the woman or the rape charge against her husband, a police dispatcher said.

Police have been investigating Doron Silverman since June 6, when Montgomery County Children Services opened a case on a complaint against him, the Dayton Daily News reported today.

Police have not shared evidence about the charge against Silverman, his lawyer said.
The fire broke out about two hours before a court hearing on a motion by children services to take temporary custody of the children.

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Second child dead after suspected arson fire
Associated Press
Akron Beacon Journal - July 16, 2006

WEST CARROLLTON, Ohio - A second child of a woman charged with murder in a house fire that killed her daughter has died.

Mikel Silverman, 4, died Saturday at Shriners Hospital in Cincinnati from injuries from a fire that killed his 4-month-old sister, Keylee, Thursday in this Dayton suburb.

Heather Silverman, 24, was charged Friday with murder and aggravated arson. West Carrollton police will seek an additional murder charge against Silverman on Monday, said Detective Mark Allison.

An accelerant was used in the fire, which started in the hallway or bathroom area of the one-story brick house, said Jack Keister, West Carrollton fire chief.

Firefighters discovered the body of the baby in a hallway, Keister said. The boy was found lying in the front yard of a house across the street, Keister said.

The whole neighborhood is in shock, said Pattie Busby, whose emotional 911 call summoned medics and fire officials to the fire within four minutes.

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CARROLLTON: Friends, family react to loss of children from fire
Many express shock, devastation at the turn of events and the allegations levied against the parents.
By Cathy Mong 
Middletown Journal - July 15, 2006


WEST CARROLLTON — The interior of Marsha Wombold's ranch-style house at 644 Maple Hill Drive is laid out identically to that of her neighbors, Doron and Heather Silverman.


A fire believed to have been intentionally set Thursday by Heather Silverman, killed the couple's 4-month-old daughter, Keylee, whose body was found alongside her charred infant seat in a hall outside the bath. Saturday, her brother, 4-year-old Mikel, died at Shriners Burns Hospital of injuries sustained in the fire.

"I've gone into my hall and bathroom at least a dozen times since the arson," Wombold said, "and each time I can picture that baby sitting there and see her mother stepping over it to get out of that house. I think, `How could she do that?' I can't imagine what was going through that woman's mind."

Silverman, 24, received slight injuries to her hands.

Wombold spent Saturday morning on her loveseat watching motorists cruise down this quiet, winding street and slow as they approached the nondescript suburban house bought in 2003 by the young couple. Sometimes, Wombold said, a mother helped a child Mikel's age place a toy at the swelling shrine. Wombold expressed shock and disbelief that Silverman could have set the fire.

"It's terrible," Wombold said. "The woman was so pleasant to talk to. It's hard to come to grips with."

She said she talked to Mikel a few times when he was playing outdoors, "He was so full of life."

Wombold said Doron Silverman was more quiet and "stand-offish."

Heather Silverman's mother, Deborah L. Boyd of Kokomo, Ind., said her daughter and son-in-law were "soulmates. They were made for each other."

Boyd said the couple met on the Internet, but not on traditional "matchmaking" sites.

"They had been hurt by other significant others," Boyd said. "When they began talking, first online and then on the phone, they seemed to understand each other."

Heather Silverman graduated in 2001 from Taylor High School in Kokomo. Doron, adopted by a Jewish family and raised in Indianapolis, was handy with computers and could "fix anything," Boyd said.

"This breaks my heart," said a high school friend, Stefani St. John of Kokomo. "Heather was just really nice in school. A `goody.' Kind of conservative. Sweet."

Boyd didn't travel to Cincinnati to visit her grandson at the burn hospital, nor has she called her daughter at the Montgomery County Jail.

"I'm too afraid," she said.

Boyd was devastated when told Saturday afternoon of Mikel's death. Earlier, she had expressed shock that her son-in-law admitted in court documents to molesting his 4-year-old son.

"Oh, my God," she said. "I didn't know that. I trusted him. I don't think (Heather) would believe he could hurt the children. I know she didn't believe it the way she talked."

Montgomery County Children Services had been involved since June 6 with the Silvermans after police received a complaint stating that Doron Silverman had molested Mikel, said Ann Stevens, the agency's spokeswoman.

On June 21, police were issued a search warrant and confiscated a computer, computer disks and video recorder from the home and car. A remote camera was found in one of the children's rooms. No charges have been filed against the father. A hearing had been scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday, at which children services was to seek temporary custody of the children.

Stevens called the Silverman case "awful."

"Never would anyone expect this to happen," she said. "The police were trying to get things started, we were trying to move on it; people were getting an idea of what was going on."

Stevens said the children's bodies most likely will be released to relatives, though she couldn't say who might be in charge of final arrangements.

The children's father worked for Chuck E. Cheese in Miamisburg, but was suspended June 14 after telling the restaurant's general manager he was under investigation by child protective services and was not to work around children.

Heather Silverman last worked at Meijer at 5858 Springboro Pike in Miami Twp.

"She stopped when she had morning sickness carrying Keylee," Boyd said.

A store manager said she didn't know Silverman well, but confirmed she'd been employed there.

Boyd said the couple seemed devoted to their children.

"They were so excited to hear they were pregnant again" with Keylee, who was born in Dayton on March 6. "All they ever wanted was a family. And they had a family."

Emergency workers have taken the tragedy hard, too, Fire Chief Jack Keister said.

"We haven't had a fatal fire since around 1988," he said. "This was the first time for something like this with a lot of these young guys."

Neighbor Pattie Busby, who lived across from the Silvermans and who called emergency 911 to report the fire, said she will not soon forget the reaction of firefighters, medics and police who responded to the fire.

"I am so impressed," Busby said. "They stood inside my house with us, with the mother, and prayed. I really want people to know what happened here."

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WEST CARROLLTON FIRE
4-year-old boy dies from injuries
Police will seek a second murder charge against his mother, Heather Silverman, who was also charged with arson.
By Cathy Mong Staff Writer
Dayton Daily News - July 15, 2006


WEST CARROLLTON | Mikel Silverman, 4, died at 11:40 a.m. Saturday at Shriners Burns Hospital in Cincinnati from injuries he sustained in a fire that also killed his 4-month-old sister, Keylee, on Thursday afternoon.

The children's mother, 24-year-old Heather Renee Silverman, was charged Friday with murder and aggravated arson.

Police will seek an additional murder charge against Silverman on Monday, Detective Mark Allison said.

Thursday's fire at 642 Maple Hill Drive and its tragic aftermath have spread grief throughout the residential plat of one-story brick ranch homes.

"The whole neighborhood is in shock," said Pattie Busby, whose emotional 911 telephone call summoned medics and fire officials to the fire within four minutes.

"We're not sleeping. It's going to take some time to get over this."

When emergency personnel arrived, Busby said, a valiant effort to save Keylee and Mikel ensued.

Keylee's body was discovered inside the hall near the bathroom, next to a charred infant carrier.

Heather Silverman, who sustained minor injuries to her hand, helped lead Mikel to the front of the house and outside.

He received critical burns to the front of his body.

"I'm the one who yelled, 'Bring that baby out,' " Busby said.

The boy, whose clothes and body were smoking, was brought to her yard, where he sat dazed and in shock, officials said.

"I knew not to touch him," Busby said, "but he reached his little hand out to me and I reached mine out to him. I still can't get that picture out of my mind."

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Mom Accused Of Setting Fire That Killed Her 2 Kids
NewsNet5.com - July 15, 2006

WEST CARROLLTON, Ohio -- A second child of a woman charged with murder in the fire that killed her daughter has died.

Mikel Silverman, 4, died Saturday at Shriners Hospital in Cincinnati from injuries from a fire that killed his four-month-old sister, Keylee, Thursday in this Dayton suburb.

Heather Silverman, 24, was charged Friday with murder and aggravated arson. West Carrollton Detective Mark Allison said police will seek an additional murder charge against Silverman on Monday.

She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail.

The fire was reported about 1 p.m. Thursday. An accelerant was used in the fire, which started in the hallway or bathroom area of the one-story brick house, said Jack Keister, fire chief in this city about eight miles southwest of Dayton.

Firefighters discovered the body of Keylee Silverman in a hallway, Keister said.

Her 4-year-old brother, Mikel Silverman, was found lying in the front yard of a house across the street, Keister said.

The fire broke out about two hours before a court hearing on a motion by Montgomery County Children Services to take temporary custody of Silverman's children.

Agency spokeswoman Ann Stevens said a caseworker went to Silverman's house Thursday morning to notify Silverman of the hearing. Stevens said Silverman was cooperative and said she would be at the hearing.

Stevens said the agency had earlier implemented a safety plan with the family. Such plans are set up when it is believed children could be better supervised and a better job could be done to ensure their safety, she said.

Stevens said there was no reason for Silverman to think that the children were going to be taken away from her and she would not see them again.

"If she was paranoid about that, obviously she didn't understand the situation," Stevens said.
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4-year-old son remains critically burned at Cincinnati hospital.
By Lou Grieco and Rob Modic Staff Writers
Middletown Journal - July 15, 2006


WEST CARROLLTON — The mother whose 4-month-old daughter died in a house fire Thursday was charged with murder and aggravated arson.

Prosecutors approved the charges after a five-hour meeting with detectives, Montgomery County Prosecuting Attorney Mathias H. Heck Jr. said.

Heather R. Silverman, 24, was arrested Friday at Shriners Burns Hospital in Cincinnati, where her 4-year-old son was in critical condition with second- and third-degree burns over his body.

Her daughter, Keylee, was pronounced dead at the family's home.

West Carrollton Deputy Police Chief Doug Woodard said the fire was arson, but did not give details.

Also on Thursday, Montgomery County Children Services asked a juvenile court magistrate for temporary custody of the two children. The hearing occurred after the fire.

Montgomery County Children Services had an active case with the Silverman family since June 6, agency spokeswoman Ann Stevens said.

That same day, West Carrollton police received a complaint stating that Silverman's husband, Doron, had molested the couple's 4-year-old son, according to court documents.
Woodard said the investigation of that allegation was continuing, but no charges had been filed against Doron Silverman late Friday.

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Woman accused of setting fire that killed 4-month-old and burned 4-year-old
By Lou Grieco, Rob Modic and Kelli Wynn Staff Writers
Middletown Journal, OH - July 14, 2006


WEST CARROLLTON — Hours before Thursday's fire that killed a 4-month-old baby girl and severely injured her brother, a Montgomery County Children Services caseworker visited their home.

The purpose of the visit was to tell their mother, Heather R. Silverman, the agency was moving to take custody of the children, according to Ann Stevens, children services spokeswoman.

Though children services would appear before a Montgomery County Juvenile Court magistrate later Thursday, Keylee Silverman died before the 3 p.m. hearing. Her mother was charged Friday with murder and aggravated arson.

Firefighters were called to the Silverman home, 642 Maple Hill Drive, at 12:47 p.m. It was fully engulfed when they arrived, West Carrollton Deputy Police Chief Doug Woodard said.
"Several valiant attempts were made to save the 4-week old," he said.

The baby was pronounced dead at the scene. Her 4-year-old brother suffered second- and third-degree burns over much of the front of his body. He remained in critical condition Friday night at Shiners Burns Hospital in Cincinnati.

Early Friday, after an alert was issued just before midnight to law enforcement officers in southwest Ohio to be on the lookout for Heather Silverman, police arrested the 24-year-old at the Cincinnati hospital, Woodard said.

An autopsy was done Friday, but the cause of death likely will be deferred in the case, said Ken Betz, director of the Montgomery County Coroner's Office.


How the children services' case evolved
The agency had an open case with the Silverman family since June 6, Stevens said.

That day, West Carrollton police received a complaint the children's father, Doron Silverman, had been sexually abusing the son, according to an affidavit filed with a search warrant.

The boy told two people he had been molested by his father, according to the affidavit, which also reported that when questioned by police, Doron Silverman admitted engaging in sex acts with the boy.

Silverman, who worked at Chuck E. Cheese, 30 Prestige Place in Miamisburg, also admitted having a temptation with sexual thoughts concerning the children he saw at work. He was convicted of child molestation in Marion County, Ind., 1994 when he was 13, the affidavit said.

On June 14, detectives visited Silverman at the Red Roof Inn in Miamisburg, where he was staying. When they asked to search his laptop computer, he refused, according to the affidavit.

A warrant to search was issued June 21 to West Carrollton police by a Miamisburg Municipal Court judge. That day, police searched the couple's home and their vehicles. They seized computer disks, cell phones, a computer, a video recorder and a remote camera found in a child's bedroom.

No charges have been filed against Doron Silverman, but Woodard said the investigation will continue.

Following the June 6 complaint, children services had put a "safety plan" in place with several restrictions, including that Doron Silverman, 25, not be allowed in the house, Stevens said. Doron and Heather bought the house in 2003, according to county real estate records.

About 9:45 a.m. Thursday, a case worker went to the house and told Heather Silverman the agency was moving to take custody, and that there would be a hearing before a Juvenile Court magistrate at 3 p.m. The mother was cooperative and said she might attend with an attorney, Stevens said.

Doron Silverman has worked at the Chuck E. Cheese since September 2002. He was suspended June 14, Dick Huston, executive vice president for Chuck E. Cheese, said in a phone interview from his Irving, Texas, office.


The charges against Heather Silverman
After meeting with West Carrollton investigators for five hours Friday, Montgomery County Prosecutor Mathias H. Heck Jr. announced charges of felony murder and aggravated arson would be filed against Heather Silverman.

Murder carries a mandatory penalty of 15 years to life in prison; aggravated arson carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Heather Silverman's mother, Deborah L. Boyd of Kokomo, Ind., said, "They love those kids. We visited their house a month and a half ago."

Martin Silverman, who adopted and raised Doron, said the couple married about five years ago and lived with the Silvermans for a while.

"Doron got a job in Dayton. They settled down. We had had the grandchildren every six or seven weeks."

Staff Writer Jim DeBrosse contributed to this report.

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Agency was within hours of removing kids from the home
Allegations of sex abuse led to the intervention of a protective agency and a ban on the dad's presence in home.
By Lou Grieco, Rob Modic and Kelli Wynn Staff Writers
Dayton Daily News, OH - July 14, 2006

WEST CARROLLTON — Hours before Thursday's fire that killed a 4-month-old girl and severely injured her brother, a Montgomery County Children Services caseworker visited their home.

The purpose of visit was to tell their mother, Heather R. Silverman, that the agency was moving to take custody of the children, according to Ann Stevens, Children Services spokeswoman.

Though Children Services would appear before a Montgomery County Juvenile Court magistrate later Thursday, Keylee Silverman died before the 3 p.m. hearing. Her mother was charged Friday with murder and aggravated arson.

Firefighters were called to the Silverman's home, 642 Maple Hill Drive, at 12:47 p.m. It was fully engulfed when they arrived, West Carrollton Deputy Police Chief Doug Woodard said.
"Several valiant attempts were made to save the 4-month-old," he said.

The baby, found in the burning house, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her 4-year-old brother suffered second- and third-degree burns over much of the front of his body. He remained in critical condition Friday night at Shiners Burns Hospital.

Early Friday, after an alert was issued to law enforcement officers in southwest Ohio to be on the lookout for Heather Silverman, police arrested the 24-year-old at the Cincinnati hospital, Woodard said.

An autopsy was done Friday, but the cause of death would probably be deferred pending the return of tests and additional investigation, said Ken Betz, director of the Montgomery County Coroner's Office.


How the children services' case evolved
The agency had an open case with the Silverman family since June 6, Stevens said.

That day, West Carrollton police received a complaint that the children's father, Doron Silverman, had been sexually abusing the son, according to an affidavit filed with a search warrant.

The boy told two people he had been molested by his father, according to the affidavit, which also reported that when questioned by police, Doron Silverman admitted engaging in sex acts with the boy.

Silverman, who worked at Chuck E. Cheese, 30 Prestige Place in Miamisburg, also admitted having a temptation with sexual thoughts concerning the children he saw at work. He was convicted of child molestation in 1994, when he was 13, the affidavit said. The offense occurred in Marion County, Ind.

On June 14, detectives visited Silverman at the Red Roof Inn in Miamisburg, where he was staying. When they asked to search his laptop computer, he refused, according to the affidavit.

A warrant to search was issued June 21 to West Carrollton police by a Miamisburg Municipal Court judge. That day, police searched the couple's home and their vehicles. They seized computer disks, cell phones, a computer, a video recorder and a remote camera found in one of the children's bedroom.

No charges have been filed against Doron Silverman, but Woodard said the investigation will continue.

Following the June 6 complaint, children services had put a "safety plan" in place with several restrictions, including that Doron Silverman, 25, not be allowed in the house, Stevens said. Doron and Heather bought the house in 2003, according to county real estate records.

About 9:45 a.m. Thursday, a case worker went to the house and told Heather Silverman the agency was moving to take custody, and that there would be a hearing before a Juvenile Court magistrate at 3 p.m. The mother was cooperative and said she might attend with an attorney, Stevens said.

The agency moved to take the children because caseworkers thought the family was not meeting the terms of the safety plan, Stevens said, noting that she could not be more specific about those concerns.

Late Thursday, Judge Nick Kuntz of Juvenile Court placed the boy in the temporary custody of children services, Stevens said.

Doron Silverman has worked at the Chuck E. Cheese since September 2002. He was suspended June 14, Dick Huston, executive vice president for Chuck E. Cheese, said in a phone interview from his Irving, Texas, office.

"He came to his general manager and told him that he was under investigation by child protective services," Huston said. "One of the child protective services' conditions was that he not be around children."

Huston said he was told by management in Miamisburg that Silverman said he was being investigated "because his in-laws are alleging child abuse."

Silverman's job was to repair games, the sound system and computers. Huston said that doesn't mean that he wasn't around children.

When Silverman told his general manager about the investigation, he asked if he could work nights. His request was rejected after local management notified the corporate office about the investigation.

If the suspension continues another 15 days, Huston said, Silverman will be fired.

Friday, Silverman declined comment.


The charges against Heather Silverman
After meeting with West Carrollton investigators for five hours Friday, Montgomery County Prosecutor Mathias H. Heck Jr. announced charges of felony murder and aggravated arson would be filed against Heather Silverman.

The murder charge does not require evidence of purposeful killing. It requires prosecutors to prove the infant died as a result of an aggravated arson.

Murder carries a mandatory penalty of 15 years to life in prison; aggravated arson carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Heather Silverman's mother, Deborah L. Boyd of Kokomo, Ind., said, "They love those kids. We visited their house a month and a half ago."

Doron C. Silverman and Heather R. Boyd applied for a marriage license in July 2001, according to the Indianapolis Star. Their son was born the following February, according to Star archives.

Martin Silverman, who adopted and raised Doron, said the couple married about five years ago and lived with the Silvermans for a while.

"Doron got a job in Dayton. They settled down. We had had the grandchildren every six or seven weeks."

Frank Malocu, Doron's attorney, said he became involved in Doron's case two weeks ago but neither investigators nor prosecutors have provided any information. He said Doron Silverman had moved to Columbus.

Jeffrey Rezabek, Heather Silverman's attorney in the dependency case involving the children, said she had signed a safety plan with Children Services that was to have expired Thursday night.

About a week ago, West Carrollton investigators sought to interview the 4-year-old boy again, Rezabek said.

Rezabek said he countered that the boy had been interviewed twice and questioned the necessity of a third interview. Nevertheless, Rezabek said, the boy was interviewed and afterward there were allegations the child was being coached.

Next, Rezabek said, Children Services sought custody of the children, contending it was anticipated that Heather would not sign a second safety plan. Rezabek said he was never presented a second safety plan.

Staff Writer Jim DeBrosse contributed to this report.

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Ohio Sex Offender Registry
December 31, 2013




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