News Release
For further information please contact:
Sgt. Jason Clark
573-522-0980
DDCC112906
November 29, 2006
EMPHASIS: Preliminary Investigative Findings Released Into The Anderson Guest House Fire/Death Investigation.
After a thorough collective investigation between the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office; Anderson Police and Fire Departments; Missouri State Highway Patrol; McDonald County Sheriff’s Office; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; and the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, the facts discovered during this investigation are as follows:
It is believed that sometime prior to 1:00 a.m., on Monday November 27, 2006, a fire began in the northwest corner of the Anderson Guest House. An exact point-of-origin or potential source could not be determined. There was no physical evidence discovered through interviews or direct investigations of the fire site that would lead investigators to believe that any foul play is suspected. No evidence was found indicating the fire was intentionally set.
Fire damage at the scene indicated the fire had originated in the attic space of the building and burned undetected for an undetermined period of time before breaking through into the living quarters of the home. Interviews of surviving occupants corroborate the physical evidence at the scene. Examination of the natural gas furnace at the north end of the building indicated it was not involved in the origin of the fire.
At the time of the incident, the facility was occupied by a total of 35 people. 33 residents and two employee/caregivers were present when the fire started. Ten of those occupants perished in the fire, eighteen were hospitalized, and seven were treated and released from area hospitals. Below is a list of the names of those residents who perished in the fire:
Amy Brown, age 37, Nathan Fisher, age 52, Patricia Henson, age 54, Mark O’ber, age 55, Brian Rudnick, age 33, Don Schorzman, age 57, Alta Lemons, age 74, Isaiah Joyce, age 25, John Walterstedt, age 43, and Glen Taff, age 19, an employee of the facility. All are considered residents of Anderson, Missouri.
“Because of the hard work and dedication of the investigating agencies involved, the area of origin of the fire has been determined,” said Colonel James F. Keathley, superintendent of the Patrol. “It is their tenacity for finding the truth, that has brought this investigation to this point.”
Col. Keathley would like to thank all those agencies that played a role in the investigation and the response to the initial fire. “Without their quick response and dedication, certainly more lives would have been lost and the investigation process slowed,” said Col. Keathley.
Agencies participating in the fire investigation are the Missouri State Highway Patrol; Anderson Police Department; McDonald County Sheriff’s Office; the Missouri Fire Marshal’s Office; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; and the Missouri Attorney General’s Office.
Several fire departments also responded to the scene on Monday, November 27, 2006, to assist the Anderson Fire Department in fighting the blaze. These included: Pineville, Goodman, Lanagan, Southwest, Fairview, and Tiff City fire departments. The quick response of the first responders, including the Anderson Police, McDonald County Sheriff’s Department, and Anderson Fire Department, were instrumental in the evacuation of the remaining occupants. It is believed these persons would not have survived the fire if not for the heroic efforts taken during the initial response to the incident.