Kelly Rea Cummings dies in fatal Albia fire

Kelly Rea Cummings dies in fatal Albia fire
Fatal Albia fire death of Kelly Rea Cummings

Albia authorities have confirmed the identity of the individual whose remains were discovered following the destruction of a local building by flames. According to preliminary findings from a post-mortem examination, the 61-year-old woman, identified as Kelly Rea Cummings, passed away due to natural causes prior to the fire which occurred on July 14th in the R.O. Cramer structure within the city.

Monroe County law enforcement officials indicated that the toxicology analysis revealed no signs of smoke inhalation present in the esophagus or lung tissue of the deceased. “The examination showed no indications of smoke inhalation,” stated Joe Worth, the Monroe County Sheriff.

The investigating officers concluded that the manner of Ms. Cummings’ death was classified as a “medical emergency,” implying it was not a homicide. Sheriff Worth emphasized that the death and the subsequent fire are believed to be separate incidents. “We don’t think there’s any connection between her death and the fire,” the official remarked.

Furthermore, Worth mentioned that the individual had underlying health problems, details that were corroborated through social media posts shared during the days leading up to the fire and discussions with acquaintances. “I understand from speaking with some friends that she had some existing health issues, specifically some heart-related conditions,” Worth noted.

Despite extensive inquiries, the origin of the fire itself remains undetermined. “They are going to classify it as an undetermined fire,” Worth explained, referencing the findings from the State Fire Marshal’s office. He added that the intense heat contributed to the building’s structural collapse, which unfortunately limited the scope of the ongoing investigation. A delay in officially identifying Ms. Cummings was implemented for several weeks to ensure notification protocols could be completed for her out-of-state family members.