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9:54 p.m. • 2-12-12

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Autopsy: Alcohol Contributed to Beach-House Fire Death


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7 Candles for 7 Fire Victims
7 Candles for 7 Fire Victims

A South Carolina college student had alcohol in his blood when he died during a fire at an Ocean Isle beach house in October, according to an autopsy released Monday.

The autopsy was the last on the seven fire victims to be released by the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Chapel Hill.

The autopsy showed Justin Michael Anderson, 19, died of smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning. Anderson's blood alcohol concentration was 0.29, and that was "a contributing condition" to his death, according to the autopsy report.

Earlier, the state medical examiner said six of the seven victims – Cassidy Fae Pendley, 18; Lauren Astrid Kristiana Mahon, 18; Justin Michael Anderson, 19; Travis Lane Cale, 19; Allison Walden, 18; William Rhea, 18; and Emily Lauren Yelton, 18 – had blood alcohol content ranging from 0.16 to 0.29.

All seven died in their sleep from smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning, said the doctors who performed the autopsies.

When the initial report on the autopsies was released in November, Brunswick County District Attorney Rex Gore downplayed the significance of the presence of alcohol in the students' bodies. Gore noted that one student killed had no alcohol and said drinking did not play a role in causing the fire.

Investigators believe that improperly discarded smoking materials started the fire on a back deck of the house, at 1 Scotland St., on Oct. 28, 2007. However, extensive damage prevented officials from definitively determining a cause.

Smoke alarms in the house activated, and six students staying on the first floor managed to get out safely. All the students who died were found on the second floor.

Six of the deceased students attended the University of South Carolina, and one went to Clemson University.

RELATED TOPICS: Brunswick County, Scotland County

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I hate it that anytime a person has alcohol in his blood, alcohol is a contributing factor to whatever went wrong. If a fire breaks out in one of those wooden structures, and I'm asleep upstairs - alcohol or not, you're likely in a nightmare situation before you ever hear, smell, or see anything. In this case, I highly suspect they don't want to blame beach type wooden construction. It could scare off the tourists!

As for chaperones, the new law that just went into effect all but makes it impossible for adults to play any sort of responsible role in underage drinking. Personally, I can't afford to lose my license, so the best I could do if I had college aged children going to the beach is tell them not to drink, and then bury my head in the sand.

InChambersBee - not gonna help.....do you really think they would still go? trust me, at 18/19/20 y/o, if i wanted to drink and hide it....i'd find the way! Or wait, is it that reaching the age of 21, becoming legal to buy alcohol, is that where we say ok...your free and independent now. As if at 21, i won't do anything stupid anymore.

Crayzee, maybe someone had a fake ID. who knows? no such things as accidents? you've never tripped? or cut yourself with a knife preparing dinner? i mean really, does everything have to be blamed on someone? if it ain't my fault...must be yours.... How do you think these families whom have lost so much feel when other people try to make a tragic event poster material for the "what not to do." 7 people died....anyone who had anything to do with that night will never, NEVER forget.

"chaperones when college kids want to party at the beach if they are under the age of 21 and drinking is involved." are you advocating breaking the law? Drinking and under the age of 21 is no legal. Make no mistake about it, I am 34 years old and was as wild as I could be from 18 until about 28 years old. But I was always responsible for what I did, and when i broke the law, I paid my dues. When I eff'd up, I made things right. I just get tired of everyone shrugging off blame. What ever happens to you is generally your fault.

I hate to say this but it may be that parents need to consider sending adults or go along themselves as chaperones when college kids want to party at the beach if they are under the age of 21 and drinking is involved. Any comments?

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