Derris Woods Obituary, Death; – Authorities have reported that two individuals lost their lives in a residential fire in DeKalb County early on Monday morning.
Captain Jaeson Daniels of DeKalb County Fire Rescue stated that emergency crews were dispatched to a residence located on the 2900 block of Cohassett Lane in Panthersville at approximately 1:30 a.m. following a call from a neighbor.
Daniels noted that the intensity of the flames caused a portion of the structure to collapse while firefighters were attempting to control the blaze, complicating their search efforts within the home.
By dawn, the fire had been extinguished, and the remains of two individuals, a male and a female, were discovered inside. Family members have identified the male victim as Derris Woods. His aunt, Joan McDill, shared that Woods was in his thirties and had resided in the house for about a year.
McDill expressed that the family is in utter disbelief, as Woods’ brother had recently passed away due to an illness, compounding their grief with the loss of another family member.
“I kept repeating to myself, ‘This isn’t true… it feels like a nightmare… it can’t be him. Perhaps it’s someone else.’ That’s what I kept saying all the way here, ‘Maybe it’s someone else,’” McDill recounted.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is still underway, and officials have indicated that the origin and circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear. The identity of the female victim has yet to be disclosed.
