What a tragedy! The whole country is mourning the passing. When you find out who it is, you will cry!!!!!!!1
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In tragic news, a house in the small Missouri town of Defiance exploded, claiming the lives of two young children. Due to extreme weather, schools had canceled classes, leaving the children at home.
Julian Keiser, aged four, and Jamison Keiser, aged six, tragically passed away early Friday morning before they could escape the burning home, located near Highway 94 just outside St. Louis.
Their mother, Evelyn Turpiano, along with their grandparents, Jennifer and Vern Ham, managed to flee to safety, according to officials and a GoFundMe page set up to help the family.
A neighbor, Sharon Oberlag, told the news source, “They were the sweetest little boys. They thought school was the coolest thing ever, and they were just so cute.”
Jaiden, who had just started kindergarten, and Julian were at home when the explosion occurred. Their school had canceled classes to keep the children safe from the cold, Oberlag added.
Firefighters were unable to reach the boys in time, as the house was already engulfed in flames when they arrived. According to New Melle Fire Protection District Chief Dan Casey, the firefighters entered through a window to search for the children.
“The fire made it impossible to find them right away,” Casey explained. The boys’ bodies were later recovered.
Oberlag told KMOV that she heard a sound coming from the home that resembled an explosion.
“Thank God, we didn’t know we were going to lose those two little boys, but everyone rushed to help,” Sharon Oberlag told the news outlet. “What happened is truly heartbreaking.”
Oberlag added, “They tried, but couldn’t reach the boys, Nick and Travis, who lived next door. It’s just awful.”
The cause of the explosion and fire is still under investigation.
The Hoffmann Family of Companies, a Florida-based enterprise founded by Missourians David and Jerri Hoffmann, owned the house that was destroyed. According to the Post-Dispatch, the Hoffmanns had recently purchased nearby wineries and restaurants, aiming to transform the area into the “Midwest’s Napa Valley.”
“Our hearts go out to our team member and their family, who have tragically lost their children and grandchildren,” the company said in a statement on Friday. “As a family-run business, we are dedicated to supporting both our staff and the community.”
The house was located near the Defiance RoadHouse, a bar and grill owned by the boys’ mother, Evelyn Turpiano, according to the news source.
Dan Tripp, co-owner of Good News Brewing in Defiance, told the Post-Dispatch that Jennifer Ham, Turpiano’s mother, had also been involved in operating the establishment for many years.
“If you ever met the boys at the Defiance Roadhouse, the Christmas Festival, or the St. Patrick’s Day parade, you’d never forget how full of life they were and the joy they brought to everyone around them,” the family shared.
In addition to losing their home and all their belongings, the family now faces the heartbreaking task of paying for two funerals. “The family will need your prayers and emotional support as they mourn the loss of two precious little boys, along with any financial contributions you can offer,” the statement read.
A neighbor, Laura Emerson, visited the site and placed her Christmas wreath on a water pump near the remains of the house. She hung the wreath after tucking in two stuffed animals, a small gesture of love and remembrance.
