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In a heartbreaking tragedy, a house in the small Missouri town of Defiance exploded, claiming the lives of two young children. Due to extreme weather, their school had canceled classes, so they were at home.
Julian Keiser, age four, and Jamison Keiser, age six, tragically passed away early Friday morning before they could escape or be rescued from the burning house near Highway 94, just outside of St. Louis.
According to officials and a GoFundMe page, their mother, Evelyn Turpiano, and grandparents, Jennifer and Vern Ham, managed to escape and reach safety.
A neighbor, Sharon Oberlag, shared with the news source that “they were the nicest little boys.” She added, “They thought school was the coolest thing ever, and they were so cute.”
Since their school had canceled classes to protect the children from the cold, Jaiden, who had just started kindergarten, and Julian were at home when the explosion occurred.
Firefighters couldn’t reach the victims in time as the house was already engulfed in flames when they arrived. According to New Melle Fire Protection District Chief Dan Casey, the firefighters entered through a window in search of the boys.
“The fire prevented them from being found right away,” Casey said. The boys’ bodies were later discovered.
Oberlag told KMOV that she heard an explosion-like sound coming from the residence.
“Thank God, we didn’t know we were going to lose the two little boys, but everyone came running to help. What transpired is really tragic,” she told the news outlet.
Oberlag added, “They tried to rescue the boys, Nick and Travis, who lived next door, but were unable to reach them. It’s awful.”
The cause of the explosion and fire is still under investigation.
The Hoffmann Family of Companies, a Florida-based enterprise founded by Missourians David and Jerri Hoffmann, owned the building. According to the Post-Dispatch, the Hoffmanns had purchased nearby wineries and eateries with the aim of turning the region into the Midwest’s Napa Valley.
“Our hearts are with the member of our team and their family who lost their children and grandchildren,” the company stated in a statement on Friday. “As a family-run business, we are committed to supporting our staff and our community.”
The house was located near the Defiance RoadHouse, a bar and grill owned by Evelyn Turpiano, the boys’ mother. Dan Tripp, a co-owner of Good News Brewing in Defiance, told the Post-Dispatch that Jennifer Ham, Turpiano’s mother, had also operated the bar for many years.
For the family, Tripp created a GoFundMe campaign, which had raised over $145,000 by Monday morning. He noted that both women are members of the Defiance Merchants Association, an organization that supports the regional wine industry.
“They were always so excited about life and brought so much joy to everyone around them,” said Tripp. “If you ever met the boys at the Defiance Roadhouse, the Christmas Festival, or the St. Patrick’s Day parade, you will never forget their enthusiasm.”
The family now faces the burden of paying for two funerals in addition to losing their home and all their possessions. The statement reads, “The family will need your prayers and emotional support as they grieve the loss of two special little boys, in addition to your financial contributions.”
A neighbor, Laura Emerson, visited the site to place a Christmas wreath on a water pump near the destroyed house. She decorated the wreath with two plush animals.
“Those boys seemed content. They were intelligent, happy, and loved,” Emerson told the press.