Morning fire claims woman’s life

By submitted, 01/28/20 1:05 PM

Hempstead County Sheriff's Department

 HOPE – At approximately 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 27, HCSO was dispatched to 146 Hempstead 188 in reference to a structure fire.

Upon arrival, the house was fully engulfed and had already collapsed.

Deputies spoke with Deatrice Henson. Henson was at the residence next door to the house fire. She stated she heard a loud explosion and then another explosion. She stated she was on the phone and then when she got off the phone, she looked out the window and saw the house was on fire and had collapsed.

Fulton and Guernsey Volunteer Fire Fighters extinguished the fire as deputies attempted to make contact with the property owner Evelyn Sampson and her son Anthony Sampson. Deputies were advised by some family members who were on scene they made contact with Anthony and he said Evelyn was still at home when he left to go to work. Volunteer Fire Fighter Frankie Ingersoll located a body believed to be Evelyn Sampson, face down in the house near the back door at the southwest corner of the house. Hempstead County Coroner David Peters, and Investigator Jeremy McBride arrived and upon his arrival, Coroner Peters pronounced the time of death to be 11:27 a.m..

The body was sent to the Arkansas State Crime lab for positive identification and cause of death.