Published: March 29, 2008 05:11 pm      

Officials investigating house fire amid death of toddler

By Kelly Young

kyoung@jacksonvilleprogress.com

Nineteen-month-old Mahogany Anderson died Thursday afternoon in a house fire three miles west of Jacksonville, in the Church Hill Community.

Five area fire departments — Jacksonville, Earle’s Chapel, Lake Palestine East, New Summerfield and North Cherokee — responded to the blaze on County Road 3326 when it was reported at 1:30 p.m.

“We have not yet been able to determine the cause of the fire, but the state fire marshal is here conducting an investigation along with detectives from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department,” Sheriff James Campbell said. “At this time we don’t suspect arson, but because there was a fatality, an investigation into the cause is taking place.”

According to Chief Investigator Chris White, the house was rented by the victim’s grandmother. At the time of the fire, only the victim, the victim’s uncle (Michael Thompson) and Thompson’s son were at the residence.

“The grandmother and the uncle live at the house. The victim was just staying with relatives while her parents were working. Mr. Thompson said he put the child down for a nap and went outside with his son,” Campbell said. “They were outside playing when they heard a noise and turned to see the front of the house was on fire.”

Thompson attempted to enter the building, trying to rescue the child, but was prevented from reaching Anderson by fire and smoke. According to Campbell, the victim died before firefighters were able to reach her.

“The child was located in the front part of the house by firemen at about 3:30 p.m. Justice of the Peace James Morris held the inquest, and the victim was sent to Southwest Forensic Lab in Dallas for the autopsy,” he said.

The house was completely leveled by the fire.