Two people killed in Monroe County house fire; mom of 21-year-old victim missing

Two people were killed in an early morning house fire in southwest Monroe County, and one of the victim’s mother had not been located by late Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

One of the victims has been identified as Gerald Walton, 21, Monroe County Sheriff Brad Freeman said. The second victim was initially identified as Walton’s 16-year-old sister, but Anna Lewis, a spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office, said that information was later proven to be incorrect. She declined to elaborate. The second victim has not been identified.

The vehicle belonging to their mother, Tasha Vandiver, 46, was located as of late Thursday afternoon. Authorities declined to say where the white 2007 Chevrolet Malibu with Georgia tag No. RSD8160 was found.

Vandiver could have taken a pre-planned trip, Freeman said.

“Tasha has been entered as missing and we are unsure at this time if she is in any danger,” a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office news release said.

U.S. marshals have been asked to help find Vandiver, the release said.

The fire is not believed to have been intentionally set, with preliminary indications that the blaze may have been an electrical issue, or caused by a discarded cigarette, Freeman said.

The cause remains under investigation, Freeman said.

Just before 3:30 a.m. Thursday, Monroe County firefighters were dispatched to the fire on Old Zubulon Road, according to a Monroe County Emergency Services post on Facebook.

Arriving firefighters found more than half of the home engulfed by the fire, the post said.

Once the fire was contained, investigators discovered the bodies, according to a Crawford County Sheriff’s Office news release.

“Firefighters made entry into the structure, did a search, fought the fire. They subsequently found two very badly burned bodies, which they recovered,” Capt. Shane Cook, MCES public information officer, said a news conference.

The bodies were taken to a Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab for identification, said Monroe County Coroner Joey Proctor.

The bodies were “burned beyond recognition,” Proctor said.

MCES, state fire investigators and Monroe County sheriff’s deputies are investigating.

No firefighters were injured fighting the blaze, the post said.

Anyone with information about the fire or Vandiver’s whereabouts is asked to call the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office at 478-994-7043, or 911.

Telegraph videographer Jason Vorhees contributed to this article.

This story was originally published February 27, 2020 at 8:48 AM.