County man dies; blaze destroys trailer

By By Steve Gillespie and Terry R. Cassreino / staff writers
Jan. 26, 2004
A Lauderdale County man died Sunday after an early-morning fire destroyed a trailer on Butts Road, Lauderdale County Coroner Clayton Cobler said today.
Cobler said family members identified the dead person as Vickey Verrenzer Hearn, 40. Cobler said that Hearn's body was sent to Mississippi Mortuary in Pearl for an autopsy.
Cobler said he "strongly suspects" Hearn died of smoke inhalation.
Cobler said that firefighters received a call about 4:15 a.m. Sunday. He said he was notified at about 4:30 a.m. and quickly headed to the scene at 3746 Butts Road.
Lauderdale County Volunteer Fire Coordinator Clarence Butler said county investigators are examining the scene of Hearn's home.
Based on preliminary investigations, Butler said the fire appeared to have started from a boiler pot Hearn apparently burned things in for heat. "The house had no utilities hooked to it," Butler said today. "The trailer was completely on the ground when we got there."
Butler said a child at a neighboring trailer woke up and discovered Hearn's trailer on fire. The child woke his mother, who called firefighters.
Butler said state fire investigators may be called into the investigation as well.