Local News
Multiple people killed in Carroll County house fire
Carrollton, KY – The Carroll County Coroner’s Office has identified the victims of a devastating house fire that occurred on October 17th in Carrollton, Kentucky.
Jessica Sellers, 42, her daughter Emilee Boswell, 25, her son Coleton Sellers, 18, and her 10-year-old son Deacon Sellers perished in the fire.
Carrollton Police Department responded to a report of a house fire at a residence on 5th Street around 6:00 AM. Officers arrived within minutes but were unable to enter the fully engulfed house due to the intense heat.
A 3-year-old child was rescued from the scene and transported to a local hospital, where she later received further medical attention in Louisville. Her condition is reported to be improving.
After multiple days of efforts, authorities were able to recover the bodies of the four family members who lost their lives in the fire. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to support the surviving family members.
The tragedy has deeply impacted the small community of Carrollton, with a population of less than 4,000. Dave Roberts, a Carrollton Police Department officer, described the incident as a “terrible tragedy” that will take a long time for the community to heal from.
Carroll County Community Hospital hosted a vigil for two of the victims, expressing their sorrow and acknowledging the positive impact the individuals had on their organization and the community.
Donations were collected during the vigil to support the affected family. The City of Carrollton has also provided counseling assistance to first responders who may need support in coping with the tragic event.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
Local News
29-Year-Old Alex Rodriguez Found Dead on University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, No Foul Play Suspected
URBANA, Ill. — A 29-year-old Champaign man found dead on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus Monday morning has been identified as Alex C. Rodriguez, according to the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.
The University of Illinois Police Department (UIPD) responded to the area of Green and Wright streets at approximately 6:42 a.m. after receiving a report of an unresponsive person near the Alma Mater statue.
Officers arrived and found Rodriguez on a concrete bench. Emergency medical assistance was requested at the scene.
The Champaign County Coroner’s Office responded, and Rodriguez was pronounced dead at approximately 7:16 a.m., according to Coroner Laurie Brauer.
Authorities said Rodriguez was not affiliated with the University of Illinois.
UIPD provided an update Monday afternoon, saying preliminary observations at the scene revealed no signs of foul play.
Police also said there was no evidence of an ongoing threat to the university campus or surrounding community based on the information available when officers responded.
Because investigators did not identify an active threat, the university did not issue an Illini-Alert emergency notification.
The circumstances surrounding Rodriguez’s death have not been determined.
An autopsy has been scheduled, and the death remains under investigation by the University of Illinois Police Department.
Authorities have not released additional information about the circumstances leading to Rodriguez’s death.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details are expected as investigators receive further information from the autopsy and other evidence.
No foul play has been indicated based on the preliminary investigation.