Canton police continue to investigate the deaths of two women found severely burned inside a Skyline Terrace apartment Sunday morning, as additional details emerge about the days leading up to their deaths.
Police identified the women as 42-year-old Katina C. Spells of Canton and 31-year-old Kourtni D. Yeager of Massillon.
Canton police officers responded around 10 a.m. Sunday to 712 Alan Page Drive SE at the request of the Canton Fire Department, which was already at the scene of a structure fire.
Firefighters searching the building found Spells and Yeager inside an apartment. Both women suffered severe burns and appeared to have sustained wounds that were not associated with the fire, according to police.
The women were transported by Canton Fire Department medics to local hospitals, where they were pronounced dead.
Spells and Yeager had reportedly last been seen Friday night. After family members were unable to reach them, missing persons reports were filed.
A vehicle belonging to one of the women was reportedly found abandoned near 17th Street and Shorb Avenue in Canton.
When Jordan Miller News arrived at the Skyline Terrace fire Sunday morning, members of Spells’ family were at the scene and expressed fears that their missing loved one could be involved in the incident.
The family later received the tragic confirmation that Spells was one of the two women found inside the apartment and that she had been pronounced dead at the hospital.
Canton police detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the women’s deaths and the fire. As of Monday morning, police have not officially identified a suspect or suspects in connection with the case.
Authorities have also not publicly disclosed the nature of the wounds police said were unrelated to the fire.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Canton Communications Center at 330-649-5800 or the Canton Police Detective Bureau at 330-489-3144. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Tip411 or Stark County Crime Stoppers.
The investigation remains ongoing.
