Vicksburg, Mississippi Man Dies In Weekend House Fire

An 80-year-old man died this past weekend in a fire at his Grove Street home.

Dec. 27, 2004

VICKSBURG, Miss. (AP) -- An 80-year-old man died this past weekend in a fire at his Grove Street home.

Warren County Coroner John Thomason, who investigated the death, said the body of Hezekiah Lewis was found Sunday on the floor of a front bedroom.

Thomason said an autopsy performed late Sunday showed Lewis died as a result of smoke inhalation. The fire was reported to authorities at 2:27 a.m. Sunday.

The coroner said Lewis and the owner of the house, Johnnie Shephard, were awakened and got out of the house. However, Lewis went back in for some reason, and never returned.

Thomason said he was told by an investigator from the state fire marshals office that the fire may have started near a fireplace in the house.