This photo was taken in Rural Knox County, MO, on Monday, June 14, 2021, by Echo Menges.
Multiple Agencies Investigating
By Echo Menges
Knox County, MO – Tuesday, June 15, 2021 – Multiple agencies are investigating a fire and suspicious death in rural Knox County.
A body was found in a burned out home north of Knox City on Monday morning, June 14, according to volunteer firefighters who responded to the trailer house fire.
The call went out at approximately 6:40 a.m. Firefighters from the Knox City Rural Fire Department and the Edina Volunteer Fire Department responded to the call, along with first responders from the Knox County Ambulance District and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
The home was located in a rural area northwest of Knox City, off State Highway AA.
Firefighters arrived to find the structure fully engulfed by flames.
The structure was a total loss.
It was not known that a person was inside the burned out residence until the fire had been nearly extinguished, and firefighters began clearing debris to extinguish hot spots still smoldering at the scene.
The badly burned body was not identifiable and an identity is not being released by the Coroner.
“We’re still investigating at this point,” said Knox County Coroner Alan Rimer Tuesday morning.
An autopsy is being conducted by the Boone County Medical Examiner’s Office.
“There’s a lot of loose ends we need to tie up,” said Knox County Sheriff Allen Gudehus.
Investigators from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control and the Missouri Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating the fire.
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact the Knox County Sheriff’s Office at (660)397-2186.
