16 people killed in Tennessee explosives factory explosion identified

Law enforcement officials have identified all 16 people who were killed in an explosion that destroyed a Tennessee munitions factory in the US state of Tennessee.

The names were released during a press briefing Monday outside Accurate Energetic Systems (AES) in Hickman County, where an early morning explosion on Oct. 10 left no survivors.

Sheriffs Chris Davis of Humphreys County and Jason Craft of Hickman County took turns reading the victims’ names and emphasizing the “need to care” for their families in the wake of the tragedy.

The cause of the explosion is still unclear. Agents with the state Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are investigating.

The victims are Jason Adams, Erick Anderson, Billy Baker, Adam Boatman, Christopher Clark, Mindy Clifton, James Cook, Reyna Gillahan, LaTeisha Mays, Jeremy Moore, Melinda Rainey, Melissa Stanford, Trenton Stewart, Rachel Woodall, Steven Wright and Donald Yowell.

Authorities said the individuals were presumed dead and that the release of their names did not mean their remains had been identified. This process is ongoing.

Sheriff Davis, who described the explosion as one of the most devastating incidents of his career, said one of the victims was a teacher.

Another was his neighbor’s husband, he said, and a third was one of his best friends, according to local newspaper The Tennessean.

Authorities initially feared 18 people were dead, but two people who were likely at the scene were later located elsewhere.

Sheriff Davis said while he may not have known all of the victims personally, he knew their family members or extended family members.

Tragedy has hit this close-knit town hard, where cell service is spotty and a gas station — adorned with a Confederate flag as its centerpiece — is the local watering hole.

Resident Jerri Newcombe told the BBC that her friend of over 20 years, Reyna Gillahan was among the victims. The two met when his granddaughter and Gillahan’s daughter became close as little girls.

We “grew up together, we were at each other’s houses,” she said at a weekend vigil. “We’ve celebrated birthdays together. It’s just surreal, because she’s gone and her babies are suffering.”

Ms Gillahan’s daughter said on Facebook that her death was an “unimaginable loss”.

“She was a beautiful, loving, strong soul who always thought of others before herself,” wrote Rosalina Gillahan. In another post, she simply wrote: “We love you mom.”

Another victim, Mr. Yowell was a chemist at AES and lived in the nearby town of Waverly with his wife and son, according to WellSpring Christian Church.

They “were longtime WellSpringers before moving to Waverly a few years ago,” the church said in a Facebook post. “Please lift them up in your prayers.”

Another person killed in the explosion, Mindy Clifton, worked in corrections for 20 years before leaving Florida for Tennessee to take a position at AES, according to her former colleague Matt Reinhart.

“During my 30-year career in corrections, I have had the privilege of working with many exceptional people. One of the best was Mindy Clifton,” Reinhart wrote on Facebook.

He asked everyone to keep their loved ones in their thoughts and prayers as “we come to terms with this heartbreaking loss,” he wrote.

Local television station WSMV reported that LaTeisha Mays was 26 years old and had worked for AES for eight months before she was killed in the explosion. His family called him “the glue” that held them together.

Her former classmate, Tyler Bailey, paid tribute to her on Facebook, writing Monday that “she was the sweetest soul in school, always smiling, laughing, trying to make others laugh and so caring.”

Tiffany Story, who attended a vigil for the victims, told the BBC she was babysitting one of those killed in the blast, Rachel Woodall.

“Everyone knows everyone here,” Ms. Story said. “With everyone so close, it’s very comforting to have family. That’s who we are – whether it’s (by) blood, or not, this whole community is family.”

Woodall began working as a production manager at AES about a month before the explosion. She lived in McEwen and graduated from McEwen High School in 2016.

In March, Jeremy Moore celebrated his 17th anniversary with the company, according to an AES Facebook post.

Over the weekend, after almost two days with no sign of survivors — and a blast site still considered dangerous for first responders — the once-optimistic Sheriff Davis said the time had come to shift to a recovery strategy rather than a rescue mission.

The facility in Bucksnort, Tennessee – about 90 miles southwest of Nashville – specializes in the development, manufacturing, handling and storage of explosives.

Aerial video of the scene showed charred debris, burning vehicles and few remains of the facility except rubble.

In a statement on its website, AES said emergency response teams and investigative agencies remained on scene to investigate what happened.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, colleagues and community members affected by this incident. We express our gratitude to all first responders who continue to work tirelessly under difficult conditions,” the company said.

With additional reporting from Kwasi Gyamfi Samedi in Tennessee.