Arrest Made In Death Of WKU
Student Melissa K. Autry
May 11, 2003
Bowling Green, Ky. - An arrest has been made in connection with the May 4 residence hall fire that resulted in the death of Western Kentucky University student Melissa K. Autry.
Lucas B. Goodrum, 21, of Scottsville has been charged with capital murder and lodged in the Warren County Regional Jail, according to WKU Police Chief Robert Deane. Deane made the announcement during a Sunday morning news conference.
"We made the arrest based on information we received during the course of our investigation," Deane said. "I can't comment on specific details."
Deane said Goodrum has no apparent affiliation with the University.
Deane said he has informed Autry's family of the arrest.
Autry, 18, a freshman from Pellville, Ky., suffered third-degree burns in a fire in her Hugh Poland Hall room shortly after 4 a.m. May 4. The fire was extinguished by the sprinkler system and Autry was rescued by Bowling Green firefighters. She was taken to the Medical Center at Bowling Green and transferred later that morning to Vanderbilt University Hospital.
Autry died at 7:10 p.m. Wednesday at Vanderbilt.
The investigation is being led by WKU Police in cooperation with the Kentucky State Police, Kentucky State Fire Marshal's Office, Bowling Green Fire Department, Bowling Green Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
"I want to make it perfectly clear-this is a joint effort," Deane said. "The people of Warren County should be very proud that they have such a cohesive law enforcement community to address any issue in any part of the county."
Bowling Green Fire Chief Gerry Brown said that the fire "could have been much worse" if the building had not had a sprinkler system.
"The State Fire Marshal's Office and the Bowling Green Fire Department have been working with Western over the last several years," he said. "The sprinkler system was key to suppressing this fire."
Brown said an enhanced ability to communicate with WKU Police allowed firefighters to quickly find Autry's room, get her out quickly, and begin emergency medical treatment.
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