The names of the two persons killed in the rural Waltonville fire Wednesday morning have been released.
Jefferson County Coroner Roger Hayse identifies the man who died as 73-year-old Jerry Wright. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department identifies the female victim as 78-year-old Mary Rose. Both resided at the Vermont Lane home that was destroyed in the fire. Hayse said the two had lived together for around 40 years but had never married.
Hayse says preliminary autopsy results show Wright died from inhalation of products of combustion. There was no indication of any foul play. Hayse is handling the Wright death investigation because he died at a Mt. Vernon hospital. Rose was transferred to a St. Louis Hospital where she later died. That investigation is being handled by St. Louis Medical Examiners.
The State Fire Marshal’s office is handling the investigation into the cause of the fire but has not released anything on their findings.
Firemen first on the scene went inside the home and were able to pull the two victims out. In all, 20 fire departments worked to put out the fire and haul water to the scene.
