Officials have released the names of the victims in the deadly explosion at the site of an Accurate Energetic Systems facility in Tennessee.
The following 16 people are presumed dead as a result of the explosion:
- Jason Adams
- Billy Baker
- Christopher Clark
- James Cook
- LaTeisha Mays
- Melinda Rainey
- Trenton Stewart
- Steven Wright
- Erick Anderson
- Adam Boatman
- Mindy Clifton
- Reyna Gillahan
- Jeremy Moore
- Melissa Stafford
- Rachel Woodall
- Donald Yowell
Officials report that the release of the victims’ names does not indicate that all remains have been identified.
Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said during a Monday press conference that investigators are having to move foot-by-foot through the blast area to clear any remaining explosive devices.
“We are moving forward, but we are still at a snail’s pace,” Davis said. “We are still in the process of collecting samples and are in the process of trying to make confirmations so we can start talking with families individually.”
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigations is assisting with DNA technology to help identify and recover remains that are located by investigators after the bomb squad tells them an area is safe to survey.
Davis said they just want to get answers and closure for the families of the 16 victims. Many of those killed were mothers, fathers, and long-time community members, including his neighbor and one of his best friends.
“It’s just a small county in rural America where everybody knows each other and everyone is going to take care of each other,” Davis said.
Community response
Still, many families are struggling to process what happened in this deadly tragedy. LaKeisha Mays came to the facility on Sunday night, hoping to find any signs of her 26-year-old twin sister.
She described LaTeisha as smart, beautiful, and loving, and would not accept that her “absolute other half” was killed in the explosion.
“We know she is out there somewhere, and we are not going to give up until we find her,” Mays said. “She’s waiting for somebody to get her. She’s waiting for someone to get her and put her in our arms. That’s exactly what we are going to keep saying.”
Their father, Ernest Mays, said they’re having problems getting answers to understand how something like this happened.
The next update is not scheduled to come until Wednesday evening, officials confirmed.
A GoFundMe has been established to support the families affected by the October 10 incident.
“All donated funds will be locked until a GoFundMe verified organization or nonprofit can be established that will help these funds get to the families in the most secure way possible. This nonprofit will be chosen alongside local officials,” the fundraiser states.
As of 6:20 p.m. Monday, $3,410 has been raised of the $25,000 goal.
Background
Officials have been providing updates since the day of the explosion on the progress of their investigation, as well as the steps they are taking to find answers for families and community members affected by the explosion.
Initially, 19 people were reported missing as a result of the explosion. In the past few days, that number reached 16.
No survivors were located on the scene of the explosion as responders continued to use a slew of resources to help identify the victims.
One individual who was believed to be on the site was found on Friday night, and investigators located two additional employees alive on Saturday afternoon.
Four people were injured in the initial explosion in areas not directly near the building that was destroyed.
The scene is continuously being processed by deputies with the Humphreys County and Hickman County Sheriff’s Offices as well as the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is assisting crews with the DNA testing of the victims. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is coordinating with state and local resources needed to facilitate the continued response and recovery at the site.
