Several neighbors say they heard three loud bangs before they noticed the large flames. The sound of the intense house fire drew neighbors outside who then watched helplessly knowing two brothers were trapped inside. “We swore we could hear people saying help me help me we can't get out,” neighbor Amy Shackelford said. Twenty-eight-year-old Roger Gray and 24-year-old Keith Gray died inside the home. On Wednesday, flowers were placed outside the home that is surrounded by crime scene tape. “I can only imagine what they are going through when they lost innocent people,” Shackelford said.
Police and fire marshals are examining evidence from the scene which will be sent to the state crime lab. “We'd love to find out this is our neighborhood,” Shackelford said. “Whoever is saying this was a meth lab, they need to stop staying that,” Shackelford said. “They never did meth. They never touched meth.”
The fire marshal says five people were inside the home. One person left for work before the fire was reported. Two others were able to escape the fire including a woman who jumped out of a window. “This is a miracle dog to survive a fire,” Shackelford said while petting a small black dog. “The black spots are some of the smoke damage that got on him.” Shackelford is caring for the dog that managed to escape. She says she is waiting to know what caused the fire that claimed his owner’s life.
The fire marshal says it could take several weeks for the evidence to be analyzed at the crime lab. Police are asking anyone with information about this case to call 417-864-1810.
