From Boyd County Sheriff Matt McHale
On Monday, March 9th at about 6:30 AM, the Boyd/Holt E911 dispatch center received a 911 call about a fire located in the Sunshine Bottom area of Boyd County northeast of Lynch. The caller stated that a trailer house was on fire and that a male subject had been trapped in the home. Fire crews arrived and found the trailer house fully involved. Law enforcement was also contacted, and once the fire was mostly extinguished, began an investigation. Fire crews were able to move debris and located a deceased male in the remains of the trailer house. He is identified as Robert Jokumsen, 61, of rural Lynch and next of kin has been notified.
During the investigation, law enforcement was advised that when the fire started, the occupants noticed smoke and Jokumsen attempted to put the fire out and became trapped. Another occupant escaped through a window and went to a neighbor’s residence to call for help. That person was transported to Niobrara Valley Hospital with minor injuries. The cause of the fire is undetermined, but foul play is not suspected.
The Lynch Fire Department, Spencer Fire Department, and Butte Fire Departments responded to fight the fire. The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies including the Boyd County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska Fire Marshal Investigators, Nebraska State Patrol, and the Boyd County Attorney’s Office.
There is no further information at this time.
