WELLSTON, Mo. – A north St. Louis County family is seeking closure after they said a local fire department failed to find their love one’s remains, forcing them to do it themselves.
According to a spokesperson with the North County Police Cooperative (NCPC), the incident occurred on the night of Tuesday, Feb. 24, when their officers, along with firefighters from the Mid-County Fire Protection District were dispatched to a house in the 1500 block of Ogden Ave. around 9 p.m.
Fire officials confirmed that fire crews searched the residence for its lone occupant, 69-year-old Wayne Vann, on Tuesday night. They returned Wednesday and conducted another search at the family’s request but were unable to locate Vann.
Family members tell FOX 2 News it wasn’t until Thursday morning that a nephew of the victim visited the burned home and discovered his uncle’s body following a brief search.
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A timeline released by the Mid-County Fire Protection District reveals that fire crews did not search Vann’s entire home during their two searches. Chief Randell Sanders attributed the limited search Tuesday night to dangerous conditions following the fire, which fully-engulfed the home. He said the search Wednesday was limited due to information they received on scene that the victim was not always at the residence and was “normally in the bedroom” if he was home…