Fatal fire victim in Newton County identified

The victim in a fatal housefire has been identified.

Authorities say the body of 49-year-old Michele Gaither was found after a house fire Wednesday on Highway HH in rural Newton County.

On October 29, 2025 at approximately 1:50 p.m., the Newton County Central Dispatch Center received a call of a structure fire at 28252 Highway HH in Newton County.

Deputies along with the Midway Fire Department, Stella Fire Department, Wheaton Fire Department and Newton County Ambulance responded to the scene.

Firefighters found the residence to be fully engulfed whenever they arrived on scene. Firefighters worked on the fire for most of the afternoon and into the evening.

Once the fire had been brought under control, a search of the residence was conducted by Firefighters and the Missouri State Fire Marshall’s Office.

The body of a deceased female, now identified as that of Gaither, was located inside of the residence.

An investigation into what caused that blaze continues.