Couple identified as victims in Clay County house explosion

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Clay County Sheriff’s Office released a statement Monday afternoon confirming the identities of the two victims who were killed in a house explosion on Friday, Aug. 23.

According to deputies, 70-year-old Oliver W. Campbell and 65-year-old Katherine A. Campbell both lived at the home — located near Gabe Travis Circle and Kimberly Drive in Excelsior Springs, Missouri — at the time of the explosion.

At this time, the cause of the explosion has yet to be determined. However, the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office said it could take up to 30 days for investigations to be complete.

In the early morning of Friday, Aug. 23, just after 4:40 a.m., the Clay County Sheriff’s Office received reports of a home explosion near Kimberly Drive in Excelsior Springs.

Upon arrival, deputies said they found a fire and a home that had been “completely destroyed.” According to the sheriff’s office, “The blast could be felt and seen for many miles and blew open the doors of neighbors’ houses.”

In the original report from law enforcement, it was said that two people and a dog had lived in the home at the time of the explosion. However, no bodies had been found.

A few hours later though, at about 12:30 p.m., the Clay County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the dog and the bodies of the two victims had been found in the rubble of the home.

Investigations into the deadly explosion are still ongoing. According to the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office, the cause of the incident is currently “unclassified” due to the force of the explosion and the extent of the damage not allowing investigators to find an ignition source or a gas leak.

The Propane Safety Commission also commented on the explosion, saying there is no information available at this time.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned at FOX4 News for the latest updates and information.

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