Cause of Feb. 17 fatal Monticello fire is undetermined

No one will ever know how the fatal Feb. 17 fire on North Lakeshore Drive in Monticello started.

The fire that killed Indiana State Police Sgt. Stephanie Thompson and her daughter, Mya, is undetermined.

"The official cause of the fire was ruled undetermined," Anna Shei, communications manager for the Indiana Homeland Security office, wrote in an email to the Journal & Courier. "The scene was thoroughly examined by our investigators as well as investigators and engineers from the ATF; however, due to the house being a total loss no definitive origin and cause could be identified."

Several fire departments fought the blaze, and the Indiana State Fire Marshal's office, which is part of the state's Homeland Security, investigated the fire and its origins.

State trooper and daughter died in fire

Stephanie Thompson was a respected Indiana State Police trooper, volleyball coach for Twin Lakes High School, and volunteer timer for Mya's swim meets, where Mya was a standout swimmer.

Mya was a three-time Crawfordsville Sectional champion and state qualifier in the 100 breaststroke. She competed at a state swim meet the weekend before the fire.

Stephanie Thompson was married to White County Circuit Judge Jason Thompson, who was out of town at the time of the 2 a.m. Feb. 17 fire.

In the past, Jason Thompson also served as Monticello mayor and White County coroner.

Jason Thompson and their daughter, Ayanna, who was away at college at the time of the fire, were left to carry on in the wake of Stephanie and Mya Thompson's deaths.

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Monticello fire: Cause of blaze that killed 2 people undetermined