MONTICELLO, Indiana — First responders worked all day Thursday and into the evening to figure out why a Monticello home went up in flames.
"Shock for the entire county," said White County Sheriff Bill Brooks. "It's a disaster that went on."
Just before 2 a.m., White County sheriff's deputies were called to North Lakeshore Drive near Northwest Shafer Drive on the north side of Monticello. Officials said the house was fully engulfed when they arrived.
After the fire was put out, first responders found two victims: Stephanie and Mya Thompson.
"Just an unbelievable loss because of the type of people they were," Brooks said.
Brooks said the Thompson family was involved in the community. Mya was a standout swimmer at Twin Lakes High School who just finished her junior season by competing at the IHSAA Girls State meet Saturday in Indianapolis. Stephanie was a trooper with Indiana State Police. Her husband is a judge.
"Being in the positions they were, public, all their careers, so it takes a toll. The public knows who they are and they know the children. So, it's hard for the entire county," Brooks said.
Twin Lakes High School offered grief counseling for students and faculty Thursday morning. The school community spelled out "Mya," along with a heart, with cups in the fence at the tennis court. Mya Thompson also played tennis at Twin Lakes.
PHOTOS: Trooper, daughter who died in house fire remembered in Monticello
Susan's Freeman Bay, a full-service marine gas station on Lake Freeman, posted a collage of photos of Mya on Instagram Friday morning.
"Mya, you joined our family at a fragile time as some of our group was slowly moving on to the next phase of their life. We had become slightly broken and had no idea you would be the piece to mend us back together," the post reads. "Our lives are less full for having lost you at a time when the world was at your fingertips."
Out of respect for Stephanie's husband, the county is postponing schedules in the county's courts for a week.
The sheriff said the community will never be the same.
"That's why this is going to hit so hard. Everybody knew them," Brooks said.
The cause of fire has not been determined.
ISP was assisted at the scene by the Indiana State Fire Marshal's Office, White County Sheriff's Department, Monticello Police Department, Monticello Fire Department, Idaville Fire Department, Buffalo Fire Department, Monon Fire Department and Reynolds Fire Department.
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