KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Missouri homicide and arson detectives are investigating the deaths of two South American searchers whose bodies were found following a weekend apartment fire near the search facility biomedical center in Kansas City where they worked.
Kansas City police identified the victims as Camila Behrensen, 24, of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Pablo Guzmán Palma, 25, of Santiago, Chile.
The Stowers Institute for Medical Research said in a tweeter Tuesday that Behrensen and Palma were predoctoral researchers there.
“Our deepest condolences go out to their families,” the tweet read. “During this difficult time, and above all, out of respect for both families, we want to honor and remember the joy, optimism and exceptional work that these two individuals have embodied and all that they have achieved. ”
Behrensen and Palma were suffering from what police described as “apparent trauma” when firefighters responded on Saturday and extinguished the blaze. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police released few details, but said there was a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. They asked for help on Tuesday from anyone with surveillance video.
The Associated Press