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The investigation into the fatal fire in Hamletsburg 3 a.m. New Year's Day has nears its completion with no cause determined, according to Pope County Sheriff Jerry Suits.
"We'll probably never be able to tell what the cause of that fire was. It's still undetermined," Suits said.
The fire took the lives of Michael Owens, 33; Nicholas Cochran, 23; and Tabitha Banks, 32. All were residents of Pope County, Suits said.
One man escaped the mobile home at 618 A Dog Island Road.
"That subject advised everybody went to bed after 1 a.m. and he was awakened by a dog in the house. He was sleeping in the living room and the others were at opposite ends in the bedrooms," Suits said.
"He observed flames and smoke on the east wall of the mobile home. He at that point got to hollering."
Suits said the man heard voices and believed the others in the residence were getting out. He went out the door.
"He banged on the mobile home and thought they were getting out," Suits said.
The man went to a neighbor's house about 1/4 mile away and either called or had the neighbor call 911.
"He and the neighbor went back to the mobile home and at that point could not find anybody. At that point he believed they could be trapped in the burning mobile home," Suits said.
Suits and the firefighters arrived and the firefighters reported discovering the three bodies to Suits.
Suits declined to identify the survivor.
"He's devastated right now," Suits said.
Suits said he has interviewed the man twice.
"They are still in shock in the Hamletsburg community," Suits said.
The case is not closed.
"I'm not going to tell you it's concluded, yet. We are comfortable with the identifications we've got," he said.
Autopsies revealed all three victims died of smoke inhalation, Suits said.
Suits said the families want publicized the fact the fire was accidental. Rumors of illegal activity are false, Suits said.
"I can tell you there was no foul play," he said.
There are currently only two clues as the source of the fire.
"They did find a heater in there, the fire marshals did. Some were smokers," Suits said.
"We don't know if they were smoking and don't know if the heater was on, but we do know they were smokers and a heater was in there."
- DeNeal receives e-mail at bdeneal@yourclearwave.com.
The investigation into the fatal fire in Hamletsburg 3 a.m. New Year's Day has nears its completion with no cause determined, according to Pope County Sheriff Jerry Suits.
"We'll probably never be able to tell what the cause of that fire was. It's still undetermined," Suits said.
The fire took the lives of Michael Owens, 33; Nicholas Cochran, 23; and Tabitha Banks, 32. All were residents of Pope County, Suits said.
One man escaped the mobile home at 618 A Dog Island Road.
"That subject advised everybody went to bed after 1 a.m. and he was awakened by a dog in the house. He was sleeping in the living room and the others were at opposite ends in the bedrooms," Suits said.
"He observed flames and smoke on the east wall of the mobile home. He at that point got to hollering."
Suits said the man heard voices and believed the others in the residence were getting out. He went out the door.
"He banged on the mobile home and thought they were getting out," Suits said.
The man went to a neighbor's house about 1/4 mile away and either called or had the neighbor call 911.
"He and the neighbor went back to the mobile home and at that point could not find anybody. At that point he believed they could be trapped in the burning mobile home," Suits said.
Suits and the firefighters arrived and the firefighters reported discovering the three bodies to Suits.
Suits declined to identify the survivor.
"He's devastated right now," Suits said.
Suits said he has interviewed the man twice.
"They are still in shock in the Hamletsburg community," Suits said.
The case is not closed.
"I'm not going to tell you it's concluded, yet. We are comfortable with the identifications we've got," he said.
Autopsies revealed all three victims died of smoke inhalation, Suits said.
Suits said the families want publicized the fact the fire was accidental. Rumors of illegal activity are false, Suits said.
"I can tell you there was no foul play," he said.
There are currently only two clues as the source of the fire.
"They did find a heater in there, the fire marshals did. Some were smokers," Suits said.
"We don't know if they were smoking and don't know if the heater was on, but we do know they were smokers and a heater was in there."
- DeNeal receives e-mail at bdeneal@yourclearwave.com.
