Autopsies set on victims of New Madrid fire

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Autopsies were scheduled for today in the deaths of two New Madrid men who died during a fire at their home Tuesday morning, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported.

Raymond Patterson, 82, and his son, Phillip Patterson, 45, died as a result of a blaze at their home at 376 W. State Highway U, in New Madrid, according to New Madrid County Sheriff Terry Stevens.

The New Madrid County Sheriff's Department was notified of the fire at 6:11 a.m. Tuesday by a passerby. When firefighters from four departments responded, they found the two men dead inside the home.

Route U was closed for a portion of the day, while officials battled the blaze and investigated the scene. Investigators from the sheriff's department and State Fire Marshal Butch Amann, who was also called in to investigate the blaze, were on the scene until about 1:30 p.m., said Stevens.

The cause of the fire, which left the home a total loss, remains under investigation. It has been determined to begin in the west end of the house.

"But we haven't found anything to make us believe there was any foul play involved," said Stevens.

The bodies were transported to Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.