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NEHAWKA, Neb. (AP) — A Cass County sheriff's official confirmed Friday that all six members of a rural southeast Nebraska family were killed in a house fire this week.
Capt. Dave Lamprecht said that Michael Speer, 36; his wife, Michelle Speer, also 36; and their four young daughters died in the blaze reported just after midnight Wednesday.
Autopsies were performed Friday, but no results have been released, Lamprecht said. The captain said he was unaware whether the cause of the fire has been determined.
"I drove by there yesterday, and I know there were at least five Nebraska state fire marshal investigators on the scene," Lamprecht said.
A call to the state fire marshal, whose office is investigating the blaze, was not answered Friday afternoon, and his voice mailbox was full and could not accept messages.
Little is left of the two-story home, which was reduced to rubble on blackened earth near Nehawka, a tiny village of about 200 located a little more than 30 miles south of Omaha.
An outpouring of sympathy and mournful messages about the family could be found on social media Friday, especially regarding the deaths of the girls, who ranged in age from middle school to toddler.
Lamprecht identified the girls as 11-year-old Elli Perez, 7-year-old Adilynn Speer, 5-year-old Emma Speer and 2-year-old Anniston Speer.
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