Cooter, Mo., man dies in house fire

COOTER, Mo. -- A man died when his rural home caught fire Friday morning.

Joe Hardesty, 71, was pronounced dead at the scene of a fire, first reported at 7:40 a.m Friday.

According to Pemiscot County Sheriff Tommy Greenwell, a motorist observed smoke coming from a residence off Route DD near the Tyler community in Pemiscot County. A 911 call indicated Hardesty was inside the residence.

Upon arrival of the Cooter Fire Department, the house was engulfed in flames and "no rescue efforts at that time could be made," Greenwell stated in a news release. The Caruthersville, Mo., and Steele, Mo., fire departments also assisted at the scene, supplying additional water supply and manpower.

"Once the fire was knocked down, investigators began to sift through the debris," Greenwell said. The body was found in a bedroom.

The state fire marshal was called in to assist in the investigation.