Bodies of Mother, Daughters Found After Tennessee Fire

Bodies of Mother, Daughters Found After Tennessee Fire
Jack Phillips
12/3/2016
Updated:
12/3/2016

A missing mother and her two children were identified by officials as victims of the wildfire that scorched Tennessee.

Constance Reed went missing with her two girls on Monday, as the fire burned through Sevier County and the city of Gatlinburg, KnoxNews.com reported. Rev. Philip Morris, the family’s pastor, confirmed that Reed and her daughters died.

The names of the girls are Chloe Reed, 12, and Lily Reed, 9. They went missing from their home in Chalet Village since Monday night.

Reed’s father-in-law, Grant Reed, also noted that the two girls had died.

“With profound sadness that is now a part of my soul I am sorry to share the passing of Constance, Chloe and Lily,” he wrote on Facebook, per KnoxNews.com. “Please continue to pray for my son Michael and his son Nichols.”

Thick smoke from area forest fires looms in Gatlinburg, Tenn., on Nov. 28, 2016. (Brianna Paciorka/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP)
Thick smoke from area forest fires looms in Gatlinburg, Tenn., on Nov. 28, 2016. (Brianna Paciorka/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP)
Thick smoke from area forest fires looms in Gatlinburg, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 28, 2016. (Brianna Paciorka/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP)
Thick smoke from area forest fires looms in Gatlinburg, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 28, 2016. (Brianna Paciorka/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP)
Fire erupts on both side of Highway 441 between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tenn., on Nov. 28, 2016. (Jessica Tezak/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP)
Fire erupts on both side of Highway 441 between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tenn., on Nov. 28, 2016. (Jessica Tezak/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP)

Jeannie Gardner told WATE-TV that the girls were found next to her mother. “I want my daughter and grandchildren back. I just want to wake up from this nightmare. I really thought I would find them alive,” said Gardner.

The family had been searching for them for the past week. Gardner said she arrived in Gatlinburg from Wilmington, North Carolina, to assist in the search.

“Every time the phone rang I just kept answering and hoping it was her. It’s just been pure hell,” said Gardner. “I knew when the detectives came to the hotel and I saw the preacher, I knew it was bad news.”

At least 13 people so far have been killed in the wildfire, USA Today reported, citing officials. Meanwhile, 85 people have been treated for fire-related injuries.

Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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