Wednesday, March 25, 1998

Fire investigation continues

As services for the 11 people killed in a fire Sunday are set, officials begin to sift through the evidence.
By JENNIFER NEJMAN
Collegian Staff Writer

Parents and local ministries are arranging for a memorial service to be held at Line Mountain High School in honor of the 11 students who lost their lives in a cabin fire Sunday on Madisonburg Mountain.

The service will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, however, the format of the service has not yet been set, said Deb Shaffer, an office worker at the high school. She added the service will be held outside, weather permitting.

Classes have continued as normal the past two days at the high school and counselors from the area have been made available to students, Shaffer said.

Related story: "Cause of cabin fire unknown" (March 24, 1998)

Eight of the victims of the fire were graduates of Line Mountain High School in Herndon, Northumberland County, according to The Associated Press. Amanda Wehry, 18, Toni Wehry, 21, Tyrone Wehry, 23, David Wiest, 20, Toby Wiest, 17, Kip Snyder, 18, Chad Hain, age unknown, and Jason Herrold, 21, are from Northumberland County, the AP reported. Nicholas Berkey, 20, James Giliberti, 20, and Erik Gray, 20, are from Lititz, Lancaster County, as reported by the AP, which confirmed this through family members.

Early Sunday morning a fire broke out at a cabin on Madisonburg Mountain, 20 miles northeast of State College.

Some of the victims' bodies were found in bed. There were no signs that any of the victims had attempted to leave the cabin. Four autopsies showed asphyxiation due to smoke inhalation as the cause of death.

Centre County Corner Scott Sayers said today is the earliest date he expects all of the autopsies to be completed, according to a news release from the Pennsylvania State Police.

Currently, state police investigators are in the process of interviewing and re-interviewing individuals who may have information concerning the fire, according to the news release.

All available resources are being used to aid in moving this investigation toward a conclusion, according to the release.

Materials from the site will be transferred to a state police crime laboratory in Harrisburg.

There is no evidence at this time indicating alcohol was used by the people in the cabin, according to state police.