New Madrid County woman, teenager dead from carbon monoxide poisoning

A woman and a teenage girl were found dead Wednesday in their New Madrid County home, apparent victims of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Jeanice Griffin, 58, and Kaitlyn Beckett, 18, were discovered in their rural Matthews home after school and county authorities, along with a neighbor, went to check on their well-being.

New Madrid County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Julia York said officers discovered two bodies in the home, and a gas-powered generator in the garage.

"These need to be in a ventilated place instead of a closed garage," York said of the generator. "People don't realize how dangerous they are."

New Madrid County authorities said investigators found high levels of carbon monoxide in the home.

Griffin taught social studies at East Prairie High School in neighboring Mississippi County. Beckett was a junior at the high school. Friends and co-workers said Griffin became Beckett's legal guardian a few years ago.

Wednesday was the first day of classes at the school since last week's devastating ice storm knocked out power to much of southern Missouri. Hospitals in the area have reported an influx of cases of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Authorities grew concerned when the two didn't show up for class or call.

East Prairie superintendent Scott Downing said that wasn't normal for them.

"It's a pretty sad day," he said, adding that counselors were brought in to console students and staff.

Griffin "was a very good lady," Downing said. "She was always wanting to give all she had to the community and the kids. She was a great gal.

"Kate," he added, "was full of life. It's sad that a young life was lost like that."

Griffin's former co-workers at the Susanna Wesley Family Learning Center in East Prairie said they just saw the two Monday. executive director Martha Black called Griffin a "tremendous educator and person" who had worked with troubled youth.

Black said Griffin assumed guardianship of Beckett a few years ago from a church friend who went off to be a missionary. "It worked out so well," she said. "She was a special, resilient, beautiful little girl, who had a smile for everyone.

"We're just so sad. We had the biggest, longest conversation with her Monday. We can't believe it."

Friend and co-worker Evelyn Johnston said Griffin came back to East Prairie on Tuesday for a hair color appointment at a local beauty shop. She said a relative called the house at 9 p.m. Tuesday and spoke to Kaitlyn, warning the two to be careful with the generator.

Late Wednesday, about 21,000 homes and businesses in the region remained without power.

The number included 200 who get their service from AmerenUE, 15,300 who belong to rural cooperatives, and 5,600 served by municipal utilities.

Ameren said it hoped to restore everyone by the end of Wednesday.

Jim McCarty, spokesman for the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, said the next gains would come slowly.

"They have to do a mile line to get three people in the countryside connected," he said.