A rural Seymour woman burning trash Tuesday, Nov. 1, was found dead after a trash fire got out of control and burned several acres, police report.
The results of an autopsy conducted on 64-year-old Ramona K. Blackburn at Schneck Medical Center in Seymour showed she may have died of a medical condition, officials report.
Blackburn’s body was found by her husband, James E. Blackburn, after Crothersville-Vernon Township firefighters arrived and put out the fire, law enforcement said. The fire was reported at 5:35 p.m. Tuesday at Blackburn’s home in the 700 block of North 1240 E in northern Vernon Township.
“It looks like she was burning trash and it may have gotten away from her,” said Sheriff Mike Carothers. “She was attempting to put out the fire.”
An autopsy was conducted Wednesday morning by Dr. George Weir, a pathologist, at Schneck Medical Center, Jackson County Coroner Roger Wheeler said.
Wheeler said the preliminary cause of death is being listed as related to a heart condition, but the official cause of death will not be available until blood test results are complete.
Ramona K. Blackburn, 64, of Seymour was born Dec. 19, 1951, to the late Marvin and Marian Briner Boicourt. On June 9, 1972, she married James E. Blackburn, who survives.
Other survivors include two daughters, Renee’ Wesley of Crothersville and Holly (Joseph) Blackburn-Randall of Lake St. Louis, Missouri; a brother, Randall (Robin) Boicourt of Seymour; six grandchildren, Zechariah Wesley, Josiah Wesley, Addy Randall, Jaxson Randall, Faith Randall and Calla Randall.
The funeral service was conducted Monday from Woodlawn Life Celebration Center in Seymour. Burial was in Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Madison.
