House Fire Victim Georgetta Gapsch Incorrectly Reported Dead

One of the victims of the South County house fire, Georgetta Gapsch, previously reported dead, by Patch, St. Louis County Police and the St. Louis Post Dispatch, actually survived the fire, police now report.

Media Relations Officer Richard Eckhard said in a release that “although transported and in critical condition, Ms. Georgetta Gapsch was not pronounced deceased as earlier believed.

“In the urgency of transporting the victims to the hospital, Ms. Georgetta Gapsch's condition was either misreported or misunderstood at the time media asked,” Eckhark said.

Eckhark apologized for the inaccuracy, “as I would not want to do anything to cause this family additional grief during this horrible tragedy.”

He said all other information in the release was correct. 

Patch also apologizes for the inaccurately reported information.