Family of Five Killed in Illinois House Fire

Whiteside County Coroner Joe McDonald says firefighters responding to a blaze in Rock Falls found a husband and wife and three of their children dead around 5 a.m. Wednesday.

He identified the victims as Patrick and Mary Hopkins and their children, 24-year-old Maggie, 16-year-old Donovan and 13-year-old Katie Jo. No one else was in the home.

The Daily Gazette in neighboring Sterling reports that the couple had two other adult children.

Autopsies are pending, but McDonald says the victims likely died of smoke inhalation.

They were found on the second floor of the home. The fire is believed to have started in the downstairs living room.

Back