Gulfport Fire Victim Dies

Jody Lee Hutchins, a victim of a Gulfport house fire last week, died Saturday morning as a reult of injuries in the fire.

At 12:30 Thursday afternoon, Gulfport police officer Jennifer Crowson arrived at 907 Hull Street South for a welfare check. Officer Crowson noticed smoke coming from the house but before she could call 911, fire trucks arrived at the home: neighbor Ray Lee McClure had called and asked police to check on his neighbor, but when he saw smoke he also called 911.

Firefighters pulled non-responsive 54-year-old Jody Lee Hutchins from the home. She was not breathing when firefighters found her in her bedroom. Gulfport firefighters revived her at the scene.

Firefighters reported Hutchins sustained life-threatening injuries; they took her to Palms of Pasadena hospital, police say.

The state fire marshal is investigating the fire, which Gulfport Fire Chief Jim Marenkovic says started in the living room on the couch and ottoman. At this time police and fire fighters say they are unclear on how the fire started.

On a related note, former Gulfport police dispatcher Frank Wheelehan answered and dispatched McClure's call for a welfare check. Wheelehan went to work for the Pinells County Sheriff's Office Dispatch when Gulfport eliminated its internal dispatch system earlier this month.