The family of a Bogata woman has reached out to the public on social media for help to find more information on the deaths of their loved ones who perished in a home fire on Aug 3, 2018.
“We got a call that my sister, Jessie’s home was on fire in BOGATA. (home beside Stop and Start store in Bogata) Her life was lost along with her 10-year old Autistic son,” Jerri Clark wrote on a Dec 4, social media post.
Bogata Police Chief David Short confirmed that after an autopsy was completed on the victims in Oct of 2018, leading investigators to believe that the deaths were of foul play.
“We firmly believe that after the autopsies were completed, we are looking at a double homicide,” Short said
He said that at the time of the incident, the department enlisted the help from the State Fire Marshall’s office to investigate and determine the cause of the fire.
“She actually died from smoke inhalation, BUT autopsy showed she was severely injured before the fire was set. She wasn’t able to move and laid on the floor, knowing her home was on fire, and there was nothing she could do to save herself or her son. She was found on the floor in her home, and Chevy was in the bathtub with the water running thinking he would be safe from the fire if he was in water. He was still alive for just a few minutes when he was taken from the home,” Clark added in her post to Facebook.
Clark also said in her post that she would not divulge any further information on what the family knows about the case as it is still an open case, and Bogata police are still investigating.
Short did confirm that there is a person of interest and again would not comment with any further details due to the nature of the investigation.
The family has posted a reward of $5,000 to any person who can offer information that leads law enforcement to both an arrest and a conviction.
“Bogata PD has done an excellent job with this ongoing investigation, and they are truly appreciated,” Clark said.
If you have any information to offer, you can contact the Bogata police department on 903-632-0772.
Photos sourced via social media
