ISP sergeant, daughter identified as victims in Monticello house fire

Ron Wilkins, Lafayette Journal & Courier
·2 min read

Indiana State Police Sgt. Stephanie Thompson and her 17-year-old daughter Mya, a celebrated high school swimmer, died in a house fire in Monticello Thursday, according to the Indiana State Police.

Late Friday, the White County coroner positively identified the two bodies found in the burned-out home as Mya and her mother, a 23-year veteran of the ISP, the agency stated.

Indiana State Police Sgt. Stephanie Thompson and her daughter Mya died Thursday in a house fire in Monticello, Ind.
Indiana State Police Sgt. Stephanie Thompson and her daughter Mya died Thursday in a house fire in Monticello, Ind.

Thompson was married to White County Circuit Judge Jason Thompson, and the couple also have a daughter, Ayanna Thompson, reportedly not at home at the time of the fire.

“The Indiana State Police family, especially those who knew and worked with Stephanie, grieves today with the Thompson family and the entire Monticello community," said Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter, in a release. "Please be respectful of the family’s privacy during this time of unimaginable grief."

The house fire on North Lakeshore Drive in Monticello was reported at 2 a.m. Thursday, according to ISP.

Police tape surrounds a home on North Lakeshore Drive where two people died in an early morning fire, Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022 in Monticello .
Police tape surrounds a home on North Lakeshore Drive where two people died in an early morning fire, Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022 in Monticello .

Several fire departments battled the blaze. When the fire was extinguished, investigators found the remains of two people, police said.

On Thursday, Debbie Metzger, Twin Lakes School Corp. superintendent, relayed the sad news in a letter to the school community.

"This morning," Metzger wrote, "we received the sad news that Mya Thompson, one of our 11th grade students, and her mother, Stephanie Thompson, former TL volleyball coach, were tragically killed in an early morning house fire. We are all saddened by their untimely deaths and send our condolences to their family and friends."

Metzger went on to say that counselors will be available for any student needing help during this difficult time.

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The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Indiana State Fire Marshal's Office and the Indiana State Police.

Journal & Courier staff also contributed to this story.

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

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: ISP sergeant, daughter identified as victims in Monticello house fire