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Tragedy struck the small Missouri town of Defiance when a house explosion claimed the lives of two young children. Due to extreme weather, their school had canceled classes, keeping them at home.
Four-year-old Julian Keiser and his six-year-old brother, Jamison Keiser, were unable to escape their burning house near Highway 94, just outside St. Louis, and died early Friday morning.
Their mother, Evelyn Turpiano, and grandparents, Jennifer and Vern Ham, managed to escape safely, as confirmed by officials and a GoFundMe page.
A neighbor, Sharon Oberlag, described the boys as “the nicest little boys.” She added, “They loved school and were so cute.”
Jaiden, who had just started kindergarten, and Julian were at home when the explosion occurred due to school being canceled for cold weather.
Firefighters arrived to find the house already engulfed in flames, making it impossible to reach the boys in time. New Melle Fire Protection District Chief Dan Casey reported that firefighters entered through a window but were unable to find the boys immediately due to the fire. Their bodies were later discovered.
Oberlag told KMOV that she heard a loud explosion from the house. “Everyone came running to help, but we didn’t know we would lose the two little boys. It’s really tragic,” she said.
Nick and Travis, neighbors who tried to save the boys, were also unsuccessful. The cause of the explosion and fire is still under investigation.
The house belonged to the Hoffmann Family of Companies, owned by Missourians David and Jerri Hoffmann. They had plans to turn the area into the Midwest’s Napa Valley. The company expressed condolences, stating, “Our hearts are with the member of our team and their family who lost their children and grandchildren. As a family-run company, we are committed to supporting our staff and our community.”
The house was near the Defiance RoadHouse, a bar and grill owned by the boys’ mother, Turpiano. Jennifer Ham, Turpiano’s mother, had also run the establishment for years.
Dan Tripp, co-owner of Good News Brewing in Defiance, created a GoFundMe campaign for the family, which raised over $145,000 by Monday morning. Both women are members of the Defiance Merchants Association, supporting the local wine industry.
“They say if you ever met the boys at the Defiance Roadhouse, the Christmas Festival, or the St. Patrick’s Day parade, you would never forget their excitement and joy.”
The family now faces the burden of paying for two funerals in addition to losing their home and possessions. “The family will need your prayers and emotional support as they grieve the loss of two special little boys,” the statement reads.
Neighbor Laura Emerson placed her Christmas wreath on a water pump by the destroyed house, hanging it up with two plush animals inside. “Those boys appeared content. They were intelligent, happy, and loved,” she told the press.
