PARIS, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV) — The remains of a missing Paris man were found Wednesday in the debris of a Monday house fire.
Larry P. Arrasmith, 54, was unable to be located following an apartment fire Monday at 507 S. Central Ave. in Paris, according to Edgar County Coroner Scott Barrett.
Investigators initially believed Arrasmith made it out of the apartment but had not checked in with family. After becoming increasingly concerned, his family reported him missing to the Paris Police Department Wednesday morning.
After two days of searching the structure fire debris, his remains were located by the Illinois State Fire Marshall Wednesday afternoon. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Barrett.
An autopsy conducted at Terre Haute Regional Hospital on Thursday morning by Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Dele Adeagbo, revealed that the cause of death was a combination of thermal exposure, smoke inhalation, and cardiac arrest. It is believed that while Mr. Arrasmith was trying to escape the apartment that he was overtaken by the high temperatures and smoke from the fire. The stress of the situation caused him to go into cardiac arrest.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the office of the State Fire Marshall and the Paris Fire Department.
