Kentucky

Two young children dead after house fire in Eastern Kentucky

House Fire
House Fire

Two young children were pronounced dead after a fire Friday morning at a home in Martin County, near the Kentucky-West Virginia state line.

Martin County Coroner Chris Todd said 1-year-old Jason Lee Mollette and 4-year-old Greyson Marcum were pronounced dead at the scene on Tug River Road.

Todd said the boys were brothers who were at their grandmother’s home. He said a 6-year-old child who was also in the home at the time woke her up “hollering that the house was on fire.”

The woman was taken to a hospital with smoke inhalation, WSAZ reported.

Kentucky State Police said Martin County dispatch requested help at the scene in the Inez community at 8:36 a.m.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, state police said in a news release. Foul play is not suspected.

The children’s bodies were sent to the state medical examiner’s office for autopsy.

The coroner said his office, the Kentucky State Police and the state fire marshal are investigating.

This story was originally published December 1, 2023 at 6:11 PM.

Karla Ward
Lexington Herald-Leader
Karla Ward is a native of Logan County who has worked as a reporter at the Herald-Leader since 2000. She covers breaking news. Support my work with a digital subscription
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