A judge ruled that the prosecution suppressed scientific evidence during Nicholls' trial, which is a Brady violation. READ MORE: Deborah Nicholls’ case vacated 23 years after three children killed in house fireKRDO13 spoke with people who were on the scene of the fire as it happened 23 years ago. But Nicholls' father thinks differently. She wasn't even home," Doug Baumgardner, Nicholls' 82-year-old father, said. A tragedy that he says Tim Nicholls wasn't responsible for either.