A Gary woman accused of leaving two of her children to die in a fire was denied a bail reduction Monday.
Kristen Gober’s public defender, T. Edward Page, asked Judge Diane Ross Boswell to lower her bond so that she could enter an inpatient program to deal with her substance abuse and grief over losing her children. Her initial bond was set at $200,000, but Boswell on April 2 lowered it to $125,000 surety or $12,500 cash in keeping with the standard of what she stands accused.
Gober has pleaded not guilty to two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in death, neglect of a dependent and possession of marijuana. She also has an ongoing conversion case in Lake Station court in which a failure to appear warrant was issued in October 2017.
Page told Boswell that Gober, 33 of Gary’s Miller section, wouldn’t be a flight risk because she’s dealing with the grief of losing two of her children — Khristopher Gober, 4, and Kailani Gober, 2, in the March 25 fire. Her 6-year-old child is now living with an uncle, he said.
Deputy Prosecutor Michelle Jatkiwiecz said the state “strenuously opposed” a bond reduction because Gober is still homeless because of the fire and becaue outpatient treatment places would have no way of restraining her.
“Children died, and countless families were displaced from their homes (because Gober had left the children unattended),” Jatkiwiecz said. “She can cut off treatment and flee at any time.
“Society is safest with (Gober behind bars).”
Boswell denied the request.
Gober previously said she had “left the children alone” sleeping in her apartment March 24 into March 25 while she did laundry and went to the maintenance employee’s apartment for a couple of hours, according to a probable cause affidavit. The document said she had done “on multiple occasions.”
While the mother was out of the apartment, her children “were playing with the stove” and put a blanket inside that “caught fire,” according to the 6-year-old in the probable cause affidavit.
Gary Fire Department Chief of Operations Mark Jones previously said the fire, which began on the fourth floor and displaced 113 residents, appeared accidental with no foul play suspected.
Khristopher and Kailani Gober suffered from smoke inhalation and burns, Jones said. Their cause and manner of death were still pending with the Lake County coroner’s office Wednesday.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
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