Indiana State police investigating Wabash fire that killed child

Monday, December 2, 2024 at 1:44 PM

By Staff report

Delilah Goforth, 2, was found inside the home and pronounced deceased at the scene.

The Indiana State Police and the State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating a house fire in the town of Wabash that claimed the life of a 2-year-old child and critically injured a 6-month-old child.

According to Wabash Central Dispatch records, at 12:10 p.m. Saturday, a 911 call reported a house fire at 626 Columbus Street. A passerby noticed the fire and alerted family members who were in a separate part of the residence.

The Wabash Fire Department was dispatched and arrived on the scene finding the house actively burning. The Noble Township Fire Department was also dispatched to assist.

Firefighters located two children inside the burning structure. A 6-month-old was found unconscious and not breathing. First responders immediately began life-saving measures, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The child was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital and then flown by Lutheran Air to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis, where they remain in stable condition.

Delilah Goforth, 2, was found inside the home and pronounced deceased at the scene. Notification has been made to the family.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the origin and cause of the fire. Preliminary findings suggest the fire began on the first floor in an area occupied by Delilah at the time. Initial information indicates the two children were in separate rooms and reportedly sleeping when the fire started. The investigation is expected to take time to ensure thoroughness, and additional details may not be immediately available.

An autopsy for Delilah Goforth will be conducted at the Northeast Indiana Forensic Center in Fort Wayne to determine the cause and manner of death.

The Indiana State Police, in coordination with the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Wabash County Coroner’s Office, will work to establish if a criminal element was involved in this incident.

Agencies working on the scene included Indiana State Police, Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office, Wabash Fire Department, Noble Township Fire Department, Wabash Police Department, Wabash County EMS, Wabash County EMA, Lutheran Air, and the Wabash County Coroner’s Office.