Sandra Mae Horwitz, 71, was the woman found dead Jan. 28, following a fire at her home in the 9200 block of Hwy. WW in Dittmer, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported today (Feb. 6).
Horwitz’s body was found after the fire, and authorities suspected it was her, but they had to wait for a Medical Examiner’s report to be completed before positively identifying her.
Horwitz was the owner and sole occupant of the home, the report said.
The next of kin has been identified, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
The remains of one of Horwitz’s six dogs were found near her, authorities reported.
De Soto Rural Fire Protection District got a call about the fire at 7:37 p.m. Jan. 28, and they got the blaze under control about 9:05 p.m., De Soto Rural Fire Chief Paul Mayer said
No firefighters were hurt during the call, he said.
The home, which was destroyed, had an addition at the back of the home, and it appeared the fire started there, Mayer said.
He said the fire appeared to be accidental but the cause was unknown.
De Soto Rural turned over the investigation to the Sheriff’s Office and Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Capt. Ron Arnhart of the Sheriff’s Office said today that the cause is still unknown and the investigation is ongoing.
--Kim Robertson
