BENTON — An elderly woman and her son were found dead in their burning mobile home Thursday morning.
Firefighters found the bodies of Bernice McKnight, 89, and David McKnight, 57, lying side by side in the kitchen, Benton Fire Marshal Bruce Armstrong said.
Firefighters responded to the blaze around 6 a.m. The home is on the south side of Interstate 30 near the Alcoa Road exit.
The fire appeared to be sparked by an electrical problem, Armstrong said. He suspects the pair died of smoke inhalation.
Their bodies have been sent to the state Crime Laboratory for autopsy.
It was unclear if the McKnights have family in the area. Saline County Coroner Will Bearden said the Crime Lab was attempting to contact relatives from out of town to notify them of the deaths.
Two men tried to force their way into the trailer after finding it engulfed in flames.
A passerby saw smoke, drove in closer and honked his horn, then got out to help. He and a maintenance man who lives in a nearby trailer then tried get into the burning home, Armstrong said.
“The flames kept pushing them back,” Armstrong said.
Lovelle Martinez, who lives in a nearby mobile home, said she was saddened to hear both mother and son died in the blaze.
She said the fact that it could have been the result of electrical problem worried her because she rents a similar home.
“You’re always concerned in these older trailers” she said.
Arkansas, Pages 17 on 12/18/2009