Smoke inhalation and thermal injury killed Grandview arson victims

The two victims of an early Monday Grandview house fire died from smoke inhalation and thermal injury, a police spokesman said Thursday.

The results from the Jackson County medical examiner’s office are preliminary, said Grandview Police Sgt. Dean Van Winkle.

Still to be determined, he said, is the manner of death. Toxicology reports that would help make that determination remain pending.

Meanwhile, authorities continue to investigate what the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office has determined was an arson fire that killed two people: Anika Hobley, 37, of Kansas City, and a 14-month-old girl.

Two girls, ages 6 and 10, escaped the fire by leaping from a window.

Authorities found Hobley’s body in the home’s basement. Although neighborhood residents and subsequent news reports referred to Hobley as a babysitter, that characterization is incorrect, Van Winkle said.

One person, whom Van Winkle described as the father in the house, remains hospitalized. Although Van Winkle was uncertain of that man’s current medical status, he described the injuries as “significant.”

Although authorities have not publicly identified the 14-month-old, a fund has been established for her at a Lenexa credit union. Those wishing to contribute can contact the Quest Credit Union, 8550 Quivira Road, Lenexa, KS 66215, and designate donations to the “Se’Asia and Family Memorial and Benefit Fund.”

Meanwhile, a makeshift memorial of balloons and stuffed animals appeared this week in front of the home in the 12000 block of Belmont Avenue.

Sheila White, a three-year neighborhood resident, stopped briefly to tie a balloon to the others. She said she had watched the fire from her home.

The flames at first seemed concentrated at the front door of the split-level residence, White said. Soon she saw the man who she assumed was the girls’ father trying to extinguish the fire with a garden hose.

“He must have gone out the back door,” White said.

While he attempted to extinguish the flames, the two older girls were at a window.

“They were screaming and hollering, like, ‘Daddy, Daddy,’’’ White said. “He was telling them to ‘jump, jump, jump.’’’

Soon the two girls ran down the street to the home of Shonday Jackson, whose 7-year-old son often plays with the two girls.

Jackson called 911 when told of the fire. One of the girls also gave Jackson her mother’s cellphone number, and Jackson also called her.

The family, which Jackson said she only knew casually, had lived in the home about two years. She often waved to and greeted the girls’ mother, she added.

“I felt bad because I told her that the baby was OK,” said Jackson, who added that she had seem medical personnel put the baby in an ambulance.

Authorities soon pronounced the child dead at an area hospital.

This story was originally published October 2, 2014 at 3:11 PM with the headline "Smoke inhalation and thermal injury killed Grandview arson victims."