Report suggests smoke killed child

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
Early autopsy reports suggest that a two year-old who died in a Russellville house fire Tuesday, was killed by smoke inhalation during the blaze.
Melissa Andres Juan, who was first reported to be four at the time of her death Tuesday, died while taking a nap in her family's home at the corner of Plum Street and Sockwell Avenue, a short distance from Russellville Hospital.
The girl's father, uncle and brother were also at the residence when the fire began.
Her father, Pascual Diego, suffered non-life threatening burns while trying to rescue his daughter.
An interpreter at the scene Tuesday, Juan Garcia, said the girl's brother dropped one of the three candles he was playing with, igniting the fire.
Officials have more interviews to conduct, but said they have no reason to believe the fire was anything but accidental.
The state fire marshal's office is assisting Russellville firefighters in determining the cause of the fire.