09/23/13 An early morning fire on the city’s southeast side claimed the life of a Walkerton man.
A 9-1-1 call from a neighbor sent Plymouth Police and firefighters from the Plymouth Fire Department to 459 Alexander Street at 5:20 Sunday morning. When firefighters arrived on the scene flames were coming from both sides of the rear section of the home. Although a call for manpower and an engine from Argos was requested, it was cancelled before they could leave their town. Fire Chief Rod Miller said his firefighters were able to knock down the flames in a matter of a short period of time.
Marshall County Coroner Bill Cleavenger and Deputy Coroner Bridget Hite were called to the scene at 7:36a.m. to investigate the fatality. The deceased, 21 year old Anthony Q. Johnson of Walkerton was located in the rear of the residence. An autopsy was conducted in Fort Wayne Sunday morning and the preliminary cause of death has been listed as smoke inhalation with carbon-monoxide poisoning. Toxicology results which won’t be available for a couple of week and will help to determine the official cause of death.
Due to the fatality in this fire the Plymouth Police Department and Plymouth Fire Department Investigator John Pasely were assisted at the scene by the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s office. An official cause of the blaze has not yet been released by fire officials.
Several people were in the residence at the time of the fire and have been interrogated by police. It appears that an arrest of two may have been made at the site of the blaze. WTCA expects to get additional news from Plymouth Police on Monday morning.
