Twenty five years have passed since the tragic death of two-year-old Ricky Neal Morehouse, III, yet the pain remains palpable for his father, Rick Morehouse, and stepmother, Robin Hogue. “It just gets easier to deal with, but it never goes away,” Rick stated, recalling the heartbreaking night when he received the devastating news from the Harlan Police Department.
On that fateful evening, Rick had just returned home from work when police knocked on his door to inform him that one of his twin sons had died in a fire at their biological mother’s home in Kent, Iowa. The shock of the news sent him racing to the hospital, only to learn that it was little Ricky who had tragically perished in the flames. “I had nightmares for the first week,” Rick recalled, his voice shaking. “I would be dead asleep and still be crying.”
Ricky and his twin brother, Reggy, had spent the weekend with their mother, Rachel Page, in a house that would soon become the site of unimaginable grief. The fire, which state officials later ruled as arson, took place in the upstairs bathroom, where Ricky was found deceased. Reggy, however, escaped unharmed, raising many questions about that night.
Investigators quickly determined that the fire was intentionally set, but frustration lingered for the Morehouse family as the case remained unresolved. Rick and Robin believe that the Union County Attorney, Tim Kenyon, has stalled the case. “I think he knows they seriously screwed up then, and it’s why he doesn’t want to do anything now,” Rick expressed.
Union County officials confirmed that while the case remains open, they lack sufficient evidence for prosecution. “It’s an inactive case,” stated Stew Lengejorgan, a special agent, emphasizing that the investigation would resume if new information surfaced.
The events leading up to the fire reveal a troubling pattern in Rachel’s behavior. Following a custody battle that awarded Rick physical custody of the twins, Rachel was granted unsupervised visits despite a history of anger management issues and being listed on the Department of Human Services Child Abuse Registry multiple times. Witnesses reported that Rachel failed to act when the fire broke out, merely standing outside with Reggy while others attempted to help.
Rachel’s account of the night was inconsistent and raised suspicions among investigators. She claimed that power outages prompted her to check on the twins, yet neighbors reported no outages. Despite her claims of heroism in rescuing Reggy, evidence suggested otherwise—Reggy’s clothing bore no traces of smoke, and he did not suffer any injuries.
The fire marshal’s investigation concluded that an accelerant had been used to ignite the fire, which spread rapidly due to the bathroom door being closed. Ricky’s remains were discovered in the charred debris, a heartbreaking reminder of a life cut tragically short.
Rick and Robin clung to the memories of their son, who they described as playful and loving. “He was bigger than Reggy and loved to pick on him,” Robin said, her voice filled with tenderness. “His first word was ‘cow,’ and he adored his grandpa.”
As the years pass, the Morehouse family continues to seek justice for Ricky. “Ricky deserves justice,” Rick insists, expressing a desire for closure that remains elusive. Until the day comes when answers are found, they will hold onto the photos and memories of their beloved boy, forever an angel in their hearts.
The case of Ricky Neal Morehouse, III, remains a haunting reminder of the fragility of life and the quest for justice that continues to this day.
