Local News
Victims killed in Bethel house explosion identified
A third victim, an HVAC technician, sustained severe burn injuries and was transported to UC Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition.
Tragedy struck the Bethel community on Tuesday morning when a home on Vic Joy Drive exploded and caught fire, leaving two people dead and another critically injured.
Fire officials responded to the incident at approximately 8:44 a.m. following reports of a fire with possible entrapment.
Bethel-Tate Fire Chief Christopher Cooper confirmed that emergency crews were en route when they received reports of a possible explosion.
Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy flames engulfing the home and debris scattered throughout the neighborhood.
The explosion, which shook the surrounding area, was described by neighbors as “deafening,” waking many from their sleep.
Two individuals, a man and a woman, were pronounced dead at the scene.
The victims have been identified as Barry and his girlfriend Hellen Colston, widely known as Lucy Colston or Lucy Evans.
She was 52 years old and leaves behind a legacy of love and family, including a child, grandchildren, nieces, and two sisters who mourn her loss deeply.
A third victim, an HVAC technician, sustained severe burn injuries and was transported to UC Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition.
Three cats were rescued from the scene and taken to a veterinarian for treatment.
Neighbors referred to the home as “the cat house” due to the large number of cats frequently seen on the property. Chief Cooper confirmed the presence of numerous cats in the area during the response.
The fire was brought under control within 45 minutes, thanks to the combined efforts of four mutual aid departments. However, the destruction was extensive, with debris launched across the neighborhood, damaging nearby properties.
The Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the explosion and fire. Investigators are currently sifting through the wreckage to pinpoint the origin of the blast.
Photos and videos captured by residents depict the devastation, showing the home reduced to rubble and surrounded by scorched debris. One neighbor’s doorbell camera recorded the explosion, which has since circulated widely on social media.
Many residents shared accounts of feeling the blast in their homes, underlining the explosion’s intensity.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and the injuries sustained in this incident,” said Chief Cooper. “We’re working tirelessly to determine the cause of the explosion and ensure the safety of the community.”
As the investigation continues, officials encourage anyone with information, photos, or video evidence to contact the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office.
UPDATE: Search efforts have been suspended following the sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, marking another tragic loss for the city’s historic fishing community.
The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted early Friday morning by the vessel’s emergency beacon after it activated in the water; no mayday call was received.
Responders located a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and one deceased individual in the water.
Six other crew members remain missing and are presumed lost after an extensive air and sea search yielded no additional results.
The Coast Guard cited frigid water temperatures, challenging weather conditions, and the vast search area in its decision to suspend operations.
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Authorities have identified all seven individuals who lost their lives after the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, early Friday morning, marking a devastating loss for Gloucester’s historic fishing community.
The Lily Jean, a commercial fishing vessel measuring between 72 and 80 feet in length and homeported in Gloucester—the nation’s oldest working fishing port—activated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. Friday while returning to port.
No mayday call was received, and subsequent attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful.
The U.S. Coast Guard immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, deploying an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and multiple surface assets to the area of the distress signal.
Crews located a debris field and an unoccupied life raft roughly 25 miles offshore near the EPIRB activation site, confirming the vessel had sunk to the ocean floor. One deceased individual was recovered from the water.
The remaining six crew members were later presumed lost after extensive search efforts yielded no additional results.
Officials confirmed that seven people were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, revising earlier reports that indicated six.
The seven individuals who perished aboard the Lily Jean are:
- John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Freeman Short, of the Marshfield/Scituate area
- Captain Gus Sanfilippo, a well-known and respected Gloucester fisherman
- Paul Beal Sr., deckhand
- Paul Beal Jr., deckhand and son of Paul Beal Sr.
- Jada Samitt, 22, of Virginia
Jada Samitt, the seventh crew member identified, was serving aboard the vessel in the role of a federal fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She had recently relocated to Massachusetts to pursue her passion for environmental biology, graduating last year. Family members said joining the Lily Jean crew was her first major professional role at sea and a lifelong dream.
Her aunt, Heather Michaels, described Samitt as a compassionate and driven young woman who deeply respected her captain and dedicated herself fully to her work. “She put her heart and soul into this opportunity,” family members said, noting her commitment to marine conservation and the fishing community.
Officials said the Lily Jean had reported taking on water shortly before contact was lost.
The vessel is now presumed fully submerged.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Gloucester’s close-knit maritime community.
Ashley Sullivan, a local business owner who knew the vessel’s owner, emphasized the daily risks faced by commercial fishermen. “I hope people really take a moment to understand the sacrifices these men and women make to put food on our tables,” she said. “This is heartbreaking.”
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr also expressed condolences, highlighting Gloucester’s deep fishing heritage. “Gloucester has a long fishing history, and that history includes tragic loss,” Tarr said. “It appears we are experiencing another of those painful chapters.”
Governor Maura Healey released a statement saying she was “heartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester,” adding that her administration has offered full assistance to local officials and the Coast Guard. She extended prayers to the victims’ families and the broader fishing community across Cape Ann and the Commonwealth.
Community members and local businesses have continued to share messages of remembrance and solidarity. Taylor Hunt, a relative of Freeman Short, posted a tribute honoring the crew, writing in part: “The salt has been in our blood for generations… A man is not lost while the sea remembers his name. Fair winds and following seas.”
The Lily Jean had previously been featured on the History Channel series Nor’Easter Men, which documented the dangers and demands of New England’s commercial fishing industry.
While search operations have concluded, the Coast Guard and relevant agencies continue to review the circumstances surrounding the sinking. Officials have stated that further updates will be released as additional information becomes available.
Authorities have urged the public to keep the victims’ families and Gloucester’s fishing community in their thoughts and prayers during this period of profound loss.