Autopsy: Smoke inhalation killed woman in Jackson fire

Cape Girardeau County Coroner John Clifton said Tuesday afternoon that a preliminary autopsy had shown carbon monoxide poisoning due to smoke inhalation caused the death of a Jackson woman on Sunday.

Sandra Riggins, who lived in an apartment at 320 Shawnee Circle in Jackson, died in a fire at her home Sunday. The blaze was called in to the Jackson Fire Department at 1:50 p.m. that day.

The Jackson Fire Department said Tuesday the cause of the blaze remained still under investigation.

On Monday, the Office of the State Fire Marshal/Division of Fire Safety listed the blaze as accidental and said it had been caused by smoking, communications director Mike O'Connell said in an email to the Southeast Missourian.

The Fire Safety Division is assisting the Jackson Fire Department, which is the lead agency, O'Connell said in the email.

A memorial service for Riggins was held Wednesday at the First Baptist Church in Perryville, Mo. Burial will be private. Miller Family Funeral Home in Perryville is handling arrangements.