Family Of Six Dies In Indiana Fire

March 13, 2006
The blaze broke out in the early morning

Tragedy struck Martin County early Saturday morning as a house fire killed an entire family. It happened near the town of Shoals, 90 miles southwest of Indianapolis.

Authorities believe the family died while sleeping. Now they're seeking a cause behind the tragedy.

Not much is left of the home on 10261 Weisbaugh Road. A couple and their four kids, the youngest six months old, were burned beyond recognition.

"This is a very tragic situation when an entire family loses their life," State Fire Marshall Roger Johnson said.

The blaze broke out just before 4:00 a.m. Fire officials got a 911 call from a neighbor who reported flames engulfing the one-story wood frame home. The family was apparently asleep. Firefighters found the bodies among smoking ruins five hours later.

The victims are identified as 41-year-old Rodney Montgomery, his wife Beth and their kids, Austin, Adriana, Trenton, and six-month-old Jackson. According to Deputy Martin County Coroner Mark Franklin, autopsies performed Sunday concluded that the family died from smoke inhalation.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

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