BENTONVILLE : Smoke inhalation killed girls, state lab says
Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/221044/
Five Bentonville girls who died in a house fire were most likely killed by inhaling smoke, soot and carbon monoxide, the chief deputy for the Benton County coroner said Thursday.
“I never had any doubts,” said Daniel Oxford, who received the information from the state Crime Laboratory in Little Rock. Police and fire investigations continue into the Tuesday blaze that killed Kristan Frazier, 13; Kimberly Frazier, 11; Katelyn Mahmens, 9; Kaila Frazier, 8; and Kiya Frazier, 5.
Oxford said that he received oral confirmation of the cause of death and doesn’t expect to receive a preliminary report for a few days.
“Its just a terrible tragedy,” he said. “It’s a bad time for the family and everyone.”
Oxford experienced a similar loss when his niece and nephew died in a house fire a few years ago.
Lt. Jon Simpson said Bentonville police are interested in the results of the examination of an oil-filled, radiator-style electric heater that is thought to have caused the fire.
The space heater, which was found where the fire started, was too damaged for authorities to identify its make or model. It resembles a model that was recalled by the manufacturer because of its potential for causing a fire, Simpson said.
The heater may have to be sent to an expert, which could add time to the investigation, Simpson said.
The Police Department also is waiting for results of blood and hair samples taken from the girls’ parents earlier this week.
Jamie Dale Frazier, 33, and Karry A. Mahmens Frazier, 27, escaped without injury after being unable to reach their daughters in an upstairs bedroom. The request for samples was made as a result of authorities finding small amounts of marijuana and methamphetamine in the house.
The tests will help determine if any illegal substance was used by the parents and when they used it, Simpson said.
A substance at the scene tested positive for methamphetamine, Simpson said. The preliminary test result may have been false, he said. “We’re not interested in trying to do anything before the investigation is pretty much complete,” he said. “That’s all we’re trying to do — the best job on this we can,” Simpson said. “Five little girls lost their lives on it. We just want to make sure when we’re done we have the whole story.” Van Stone, Benton County’s prosecuting attorney, said once the investigations are finished the results will be made public.
“In the meantime, investigators have to go about it in the right way, and the right way is not speculating on what might happen,” he said.
Brad Karren, a Bentonville lawyer representing the Frazier family, didn’t return telephone messages seeking comment Thursday.