In a small hamlet in Missouri, a devastating explosion and fire took the lives of two young boys, Julian Keiser, age 4, and Jamison Keiser, age 6. The explosion occurred early Friday morning at their home near Highway 94, just outside of St. Louis. Their mother, Evelyn Turpiano, and their grandparents, Jennifer and Vern Ham, were able to escape the blaze and reach safety, but unfortunately, the boys were unable to get out in time.

Due to extreme weather, the boys’ school had canceled classes for the day, keeping them at home when the tragedy struck. Despite the efforts of firefighters, who arrived to find the house already engulfed in flames, they were unable to save the boys. According to New Melle Fire Protection District Chief Dan Casey, firefighters entered the home through a window in a desperate attempt to locate the children. However, the intense flames hindered their ability to reach them quickly, and the boys’ bodies were later discovered in the rubble.

Neighbors expressed their heartbreak over the loss of the two boys. Sharon Oberlag, a nearby resident, shared with the local news, “They were the nicest little boys. They thought school was the coolest thing ever, and they were so cute.” Oberlag added that she heard a loud explosion coming from the house and, along with others, rushed to help but was too late to save the children. “What transpired is really tragic,” she said.

The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, though early reports have yet to determine exactly what led to the fire. The property was owned by the Hoffmann Family of Companies, a business with ties to Missouri, which had purchased local wineries and restaurants in an effort to turn the area into the Midwest’s version of Napa Valley. In a statement, the Hoffmanns expressed their condolences to the family, stating, “Our hearts are with the member of our team and their family who lost their children and grandchildren. As a family-run company, we are committed to supporting our staff and our community.”

A GoFundMe campaign was set up to support the family, which as of Monday had raised over $145,000. Dan Tripp, a co-owner of Good News Brewing and a friend of the family, organized the fundraiser. He noted that both Evelyn Turpiano and her mother, Jennifer Ham, were active members of the Defiance community and the Defiance Merchants Association, which supports the local wine industry.

The loss has left a deep void in the community, as the family now faces not only the emotional burden of losing two precious children but also the financial strain of covering funeral costs and rebuilding their lives after the destruction of their home. Neighbor Laura Emerson visited the site to leave a Christmas wreath, stuffed with two plush toys, as a tribute to the boys. “Those boys were so happy,” she said. “They were smart, they were loved.”