In a devastating incident that has left a community in shock, a Missouri teacher, Bernadine Pruessner, and her four children were found dead in an early morning house fire. The incident is currently under investigation as authorities suspect foul play.
Bernadine Pruessner Obituary
A peaceful morning turned tragic as a house fire in Ferguson claimed the lives of Bernadine Pruessner and her four children. The St. Louis County Police Department is conducting a criminal investigation into the incident, considering it suspicious.
Cordell Beache, the father, identified the victims as his daughter, 38-year-old Bernadine Pruessner, and her children: 9-year-old twins Ellie and Ivy, 5-year-old Jackson, and 2-and-1/2-year-old Millie. The fire also took the lives of three family dogs.
Bernadine Pruessner Found Dead
Authorities have described the fire as ‘suspicious,’ prompting a thorough criminal investigation. Tracy Panus, a spokesperson for the St. Louis County Police, stated, “We don’t know the circumstances of what occurred here, but we are investigating.”
The Ferguson Police Department has called in the St. Louis County Bureau of Crimes Against Persons to lead the investigation. Assistance is being provided by St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson detectives and Crime Scene Unit detectives.
Community Mourns the Loss of a Teacher and Her Children
Neighbors were alerted to the fire by a resident who noticed flames shortly after 4:30 am. Despite efforts to combat the blaze, firefighters faced challenges due to its intensity.
Tyler Justice, a relative of Pruessner, remembered her as someone whose smile ‘would light up the room.’ He stated, “She was just one of those people that if you were in a bad mood and you talked to her, she would make you feel a lot better.” He described her children as ‘some of the smartest, brightest kids you could have.’
The twins, Ellie and Ivy, were fourth graders at Mason Ridge Elementary School, and the Parkway School District has announced the provision of a crisis intervention team for affected students.
Remembering Bernadine Pruessner – A Teacher and Urban Farmer
Bernadine Pruessner, affectionately known as ‘Birdie,’ was not only a devoted mother but also an esteemed teacher and urban farmer. In addition to her passion for urban farming, she had a successful teaching career, having received the Missouri Teacher of the Year Award in 2013.
In 2022, Pruessner joined Lewis and Clark Community College as a full-time faculty member, holding teaching certifications in various fields. She was pursuing a doctorate in early childhood education at the time of her tragic death.
Dara Ashby with the Ferguson Animal Coalition spoke highly of Pruessner, describing her as a ‘wonderful person’ who loved her kids, family, and animals. Ashby added, “She was just a treasure to our community. So this is a huge loss.”
Pruessner’s last Facebook post on the evening of February 19 now serves as a poignant reminder of the moments before the tragedy. She wrote, ‘All my kids, peacefully sleeping in my bed…Curled up together. Knowing they are loved so fiercely that I’d do anything for them. This is my favorite moment.’
As the community grapples with this heart-wrenching loss, the investigation into the suspicious fire continues. Authorities are determined to uncover the circumstances surrounding Bernadine Pruessner and her children’s untimely deaths.
