Derris Woods, Joan McDill Obituary, Death – Officials have reported that two individuals lost their lives in a house fire in DeKalb County early Monday morning. The fire occurred on Cohassett Lane in Panthersville around 1:30 a.m., following a call from a neighbor. According to Capt. Jaeson Daniels of DeKalb County Fire Rescue, firefighters arrived at the scene to find the house engulfed in flames. The intensity of the fire caused part of the structure to collapse, complicating efforts to search for victims inside.
By the time the fire was fully extinguished at daybreak, the bodies of a man and a woman were discovered within the remains of the home. The man has been identified as Derris Woods, a resident of the house for approximately a year. His aunt, Joan McDill, stated that Woods was in his 30s. McDill also shared that the family is reeling from the loss, as Woods’ brother had recently passed away from an illness, compounding their grief.
McDill expressed her disbelief at the news, describing the situation as a nightmare and hoping against hope that it was someone else who had perished.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and officials have yet to determine how and where the blaze started within the home. The identity of the woman who died in the fire has not been released at this time.
