
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 23, 1995                   TAG: 9502230066
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

AUTOPSY COMPLETED IN FIRE DEATH

Smoke inhalation has been ruled the official cause of death of a Franklin County man found inside his burning trailer last week, according to results of an autopsy.

Joe Glenn Crook, 61, was found in the living room area of his mobile home off Virginia 702 in Redwood early Friday. The trailer was engulfed by flames.

Dr. William Massello, assistant deputy chief medical examiner for Western Virginia, confirmed Crook's cause of death, and that no foul play was involved.

An investigation by Franklin County fire officials last week revealed that the blaze started in the kitchen. Investigators believe Crook - who was the only person inside the trailer at the time of the fire - went to sleep, forgetting to turn off a hot plate that later ignited some items next to it.

Crook was the first person killed by fire in Franklin County this year - but he was at least the 11th fire fatality in Western Virginia since the week before Christmas.

Keywords:
FATALITY

by CNB