KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal house explosion in rural Excelsior Springs, Missouri have identified the victims as 70-year-old Oliver W. Campbell and 65-year-old Katherine A. Campbell. Both lived at the house at 14406 Kimberly Drive according to the Clay County Sheriff's office.
The Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office also confirmed there was a gas leak in the home. “Because of the force of the explosion and extent of structural damage, no cause could be identified as to the source of the gas leak or the ignition source. The Missouri Division of Fire Safety classified the explosion as undetermined.”
It will take up to 30 days for their full incident report to be complete.
Just after 4:30 a.m. Friday, the Clay County Sheriff's office reported they were contacted about a house that exploded at 14406 Kimberly Drive.
Deputies found the house was completely destroyed, and a fire was burning. The blast could be felt and seen for many miles and blew open the doors of neighbors’ houses.
Oliver and Katherine Campbell lived at the home, and initially investigators did not know whether they were home at the time of the blast.
Just after noon Friday the sheriff's office reported deputies and firefighters located their bodies in the rubble of the home.
Deputies also located a dog that appears to have been killed by the explosion. The Missouri Search and Rescue Canines and the Excelsior Springs Fire Department, assisted in the search for victims.
Investigators have found no evidence of foul play. Excelsior Springs is located approximately 25 miles northeast of Kansas City.