Authorities in California have now confirmed that four of the five people killed in a vacant office building fire on June 13 were originally from the southeast Iowa city of Ottumwa.
The four Iowans killed have been identified as 59-year-old Jerry Clemons, 44-year-old Mary Davis, 24-year-old Joseph Proenneke and 18-year-old Tierra Stansberry.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Davis and Clemons had come to Los Angeles from Iowa just days before the fire. Davis was joining her son, Joseph Proenneke, in L.A.
Police quickly arrested a 21-year-old illegal Honduran immigrant, Johnny Sanchez, charging him with five counts of capital murder. Police say that Sanchez intentionally set the fire following an argument with other homeless residents of the vacant building.
By Nick Davis, KBIZ, Ottumwa