Missouri News

Victims in SW Mo. apartment fire identified

(WHEATON, Mo., AP) — Authorities and relatives have identified the five people killed Thanksgiving Day in a fire at a southwest Missouri apartment building.

Officials in the small town of Wheaton say the fire at the Blue Ridge Apartments was reported about 3:20 a.m. Thursday. The cause remained undetermined Friday, but others in the building reported hearing explosions.

Two people died in one unit and three others in a neighboring apartment.

The Barry County coroner identified the victims as 54-year-old Molly Doherty and 32-year-old Jonathan “Jay” Gemmecke (GIH’-meh-kee), who were in one apartment; and 43-year-old Mary Henning and her 8-year-old son, Brandon Thurston, in the other unit. Relatives of Henning and the fifth victim identified that person as Corey Hasche, who was in his 20s.

All eight units in the building were destroyed.

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