Aug. 29--ST. LOUIS COUNTY --Maci Gapsch, 11, who had been in critical condition at Mercy Hospital St. Louis after injuries suffered in a fire Tuesday morning, died at 7:28 p.m. Wednesday, the St. Louis County Medical Examiner's office reported.
Two relatives who were also victims of the fire died earlier. Maci's great-grandmother, Georgette Gapsch, 79, died at 12:06 a.m. Wednesday at St. Anthony's Medical Center. Maci Gapsch's father and Georgette Gapsch's grandson, Terry "T.J." Gapsch, 38, died Tuesday.
The fire at 10005 St. Simon Court in south St. Louis County is under investigation. It apparently started in the basement and quickly filled the house with smoke.
Maci's sister, Mia Gapsch, 13, was in satisfactory condition Wednesday. The girls' mother, Christine Gapsch, died in February 2010 of cancer, a relative said.
The fire at Georgette Gapsch's home was reported at 1:25 a.m. Tuesday when Mia Gapsch ran to a neighbor's home for help. She told police three of her relatives were still inside, but an officer could not get in because of the heavy smoke.
St. Louis County Police Officer Rick Eckhard said Wednesday morning that the preliminary report lists the basement as the most likely place of origin, and the fire does not appear suspicious.
A statement from the Gapsch family said they believe T.J. Gapsch awakened Mia and guided her out, and then she ran to a neighbor's house for help. Family members said they believed T.J. Gapsch went back into the house and tried to rescue Maci.
Family members said T.J.'s uncle and Georgette's son, Michael Gapsch, is a firefighter with the Mehlville Fire Protection District and was one of the first on the scene. He and other firefighters helped pull Georgette Gapsch and Maci Gapsch from the home while trying to put out the fire.
The Lindbergh School District has set up a fund to help the family. Contributions may be made to: Lindbergh Schools, c/o Gapsch Family Fund at 4900 South Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63126. Write "Gapsch Family Fund" in the memo line.
Beth Johnston, a spokeswoman for the school district, said the fund currently is designed to help with any general needs the family might have in the coming weeks and months, including replacing items lost in the fire and covering medical expenses.
Copyright 2013 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
