Elderly couple killed in house fire in Ste. Genevieve - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff

Elderly couple killed in house fire in Ste. Genevieve

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(Source: KFVS photojournalist Mike Mohundro) (Source: KFVS photojournalist Mike Mohundro)
(Source: KFVS photojournalist Mike Mohundro) (Source: KFVS photojournalist Mike Mohundro)
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STE. GENEVIEVE, MO (KFVS) -

An elderly man and woman were found dead after a house fire in Ste. Genevieve Sunday.

Aloysius Charles Hotop, 70, and Donna Marie Hotop, 68, were found dead after a fire at their home, according to Ste. Genevieve Fire Chief Mick Schwent.

According to the Ste. Genevieve Police Department, a fire broke out at a home at 498 South Fourth Street Sunday at 4:05 p.m.

Firefighters arrived at 4:10 p.m. to heavy smoke showing from the street with the rear (east) side of the house engulfed in flames.

Neighbors indicated at that time that the residents of the home may still be inside.

Firefighters were hampered from entering the home due to an extreme amount of debris within the house.

Firefighters were able to get control of the fire and were able to enter the home.

That's when they found an elderly man and woman dead inside the home.

Firefighters left the scene around 10:30 p.m.

Schwent says both victims appear to have died from smoke inhalation.

The fire has been ruled accidental.

Schwent believes the fire started in the ceiling above the kitchen and spread from there.

An investigation to the cause is underway at this time by the Ste. Genevieve Fire Department, the Ste. Genevieve Police Department, the Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office, the Ste. Genevieve County Corner and Sheriff's Department are investigating.

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