WEBB — A local resident appears to have died of "smoke and soot inhalation" in an early-morning house fire Thursday, July 6, according to Tallahatchie County Coroner Ginger Meriwether, who said an autopsy was to be conducted Tuesday, July 11, to verify the initial finding.
She identified the victim as Antonio McIntyre, 43, of 208 Bayou St.
He was the lone occupant of the house at the time of the fire, Meriwether added.
She said Mr. McIntyre's body was found by firefighters "at the opposite end of where the fire was" in the house.
"It appeared that he had gone back in for something and the smoke got him," the coroner stated. "The keys were there in the door."
Meriwether said there were "no signs of foul play, no signs of arson. The fire marshal was here, and they didn't see any evidence of anything ... other than a terrible accident."
Despite the absence of any obvious signs of criminality, Meriwether said she submitted her findings to the state crime lab with the recommendation that an autopsy be conducted.
"As coroner, I ask for the autopsy to be performed," she explained. "The medical doctors and investigators within the crime lab then determine whether a full autopsy should be performed."
After speaking with a liaison at the crime lab Friday afternoon, Meriwether learned that her request will be granted. On Monday, July 10, she learned that the autopsy would be conducted the following day.
Tallahatchie County Fire Coordinator Linnie Maples said Webb-Westside Fire Department was dispatched to the fire scene just before 1:40 a.m. July 6.
"They responded, got on scene, and they requested additional assistance from Tutwiler for manpower, from Sumner for manpower and water, and from Sharkey-Hampton Lake for manpower and water," Maples noted.
He said the state fire marshal's office must be notified in cases of any death related to fire.
"If there is a death in a fire, regardless of whether it's arson or whether it's accidental, unintentional or it's a car fire, by state law we have to call the fire marshal. They have to come to those particular scenes," he added.
Webb-Westside Fire Chief Willie Garner said Friday that firefighters had to return to the scene Thursday evening because the fire had flared back up and was burning through the roof of the structure, which he described as a mobile home with a roof built over it.
Garner said firefighters had to cut a hole in the roofs to extinguish the blaze.
Three investigators from the fire marshal's office were back at the scene Friday in an effort to determine the cause of the fire, Garner noted, explaining that no official determination has yet been made public.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that an autopsy is to be conducted and to include comments of Webb-Westside Fire Chief Willie Garner.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to remove a reference to the fire victim having a wife. Coroner Ginger Meriwether said the woman she was told about is a "common law girlfriend."
