Trial Of Oklahoma Man Charged In Kids' Deaths Resumes

It's day two, in the trial of a Del City father charged with child neglect.

The first witness called to the stand was a neighbor who described the fire and testified Christopher Dunham was a loving father.

Pam Peeler gave emotional testimony. She said she heard the fire and considered those kids her grandchildren. She said she would often see the children playing in the street unattended.

Peeler cried during her testimony. She said she observed Stephanie Dunham pulling on the arms of her children, that she felt it was too rough.

During cross examination, she said Christopher was a loving father, that the children were happy, and that he lived for those children. She testified she has known the Dunhams for seven years. She testified that the Dunhams would sleep in the RV, but spend the day in the house adjacent to it that belonged to Christopher Dunham's mother. She says she is the one who called Christopher to tell him the RV was on fire. Said she saw flames coming out of the RV.

The next witness called was Heather Schafstall, an OSBI Forensic Investigator. She identified the pipes and residue of meth and marijuana found at the fire scene.

Some of the most compelling part of Wednesday's testimony was when the jury got to see actual parts of the burned out RV that were brought in as evidence. Deputy Chief Jeff Keester, Del City Fire Marshall and lead investigator talked about this evidence and what all he found at the scene. He said he examined the fire scene. He also said he saw and had the bodies removed.

According to Keester, the RV had no power or hot water heater. He said what concerned him, was finding the space heater and propane torch inside where children were. He says he found aerosol cans with puncture wounds and batteries, items that are often used to manufacture meth. Keester said the area of origin of the fire was behind the passenger seat and that he found a space heater there. He also found another space heater in the middle of the RV. Both were plugged in. He also showed where children's bodies were found and talked about parts of the burned out RV that were brought in for the jury to see.

On cross examination, Dunham's attorney challenged the fire Marshall on what he claimed he found in the RV and what evidence he collected. Keester claimed he did not collect all the aerosol cans, he says he only took one as evidence. The attorney challenged Keester's claim that he found evidence that could prove the Dunhams were manufacturing meth.

Dave Able, a Del City detective testified that he talked with an older lady about how the kids were often locked in the RV.

Then David Michael Keller with the ATF testified. He said the space heater, propane tank and electrical cords found in the fire were taken as evidence. He said this created a very dangerous scenario and placed the Dunham children at risk.

The trial all hinges on whether a jury finds Christopher Dunham guilty or innocent of not only using drugs around his children, but whether he neglected or enabled the neglect of his three children. His wife Stephanie Dunham has already pleaded no contest to those charges last week. She will be sentenced in July.

Both Christopher and Stephanie Dunham face up to life in prison.

3/7/2012 Related Story: Jury Selection Begins For Del City Dad Of Kids Killed In Fire