Youngstown fire victims appeared to be trying to get out, chief says

YOUNGSTOWN

The three people who died in their Powers Way home in a fire early Monday were all found out of their beds.

Fire Chief John O’Neill said William and Judith Schmidt and their 10-year-old granddaughter Corinne Gump were found in an upstairs bedroom but all were out of bed. He said by the way all three were positioned, it looked as if they were trying to get out.

People stopped by the house Tuesday to leave stuffed animals and Easter baskets on the front lawn of the 3631 Powers Way home. Fire investigators, including representatives from the state fire marshals office and city fire Capt. Alvin Ware of the Fire Investigation Unit also returned, as did one of the special dogs the fire marshals office uses to sniff for accelerants.

Ware said the blaze broke out about 3:30 a.m. and started in the basement, but he would not give any other details, saying the case is still under investigation.

David Rowbotham and his wife Gina were putting mementoes on the front lawn. Rowbotham said people have been dropping things off at his house about a half-dozen doors up and he has been shuttling them to the home.

He said he did not know the Schmidts or their granddaughter well, but he still was upset about their deaths.

Read more about the tragedy aftermath in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.