Autopsies show Horry County man, grandsons died from smoke inhalation

Preliminary autopsy results show that an Horry County man and his two grandsons died from smoke inhalation in a house fire early Wednesday, Horry County Deputy Coroner Tony Hendrick said Thursday.

Hugh Elliott, 85, a World War II veteran, and his grandsons, Austin Daniel Elliott, 9, and Conner Lynn Elliott, 7, died from asphyxiation from carbon monoxide, Hendrick said of the autopsy results.

The Elliotts died after a fire consumed their home at 2294 Douston Road located at the corner of Lake Pond Road, which is off Secondary Highway 19 near Loris. Firefighters were called about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday to the home for the blaze and found it was 50 to 60 percent involved with fire when they arrived.

Because of the severe and extensive damage to the home, it may a be a while before they determine the cause, said Bill Martin, an Horry County Fire Rescue investigator. They were focusing their investigation on the front of the house near the living room area.

The investigation into the cause of the fire continued Thursday.

Fire investigators spent several hours Wednesday morning sifting through ashes and charred remains of the home, which was mostly destroyed by fire. A couple of walls remained standing in the rear of the home, but the majority of the home’s roof, walls and floors were consumed by the blaze.

It was unclear if the home was equipped with working smoke detectors.

Horry County police also were called to the scene to investigate the blaze, but that is standard procedure when anyone dies in a fire in the county.

“During the initial stages of the investigation, there were no obvious signs of foul play or arson,” Horry County police Sgt. Robert Kegler said. “However, violent crimes detective with the Horry County Police Department, as part of police department protocol, will continue to investigate.”

Members of the Loris Fire Department provided assistance to Horry County firefighters during the incident.

The boys attended Green Sea Floyds Elementary School where Conner was a second-grader and Austin a fourth-grader, said Teal Britton, Horry County Schools spokeswoman.

Hugh Elliott was a WWII veteran and was on the inaugural Honor Flight from Myrtle Beach to Washington, D.C., on Nov. 10, 2010, said Bill Krzyk with Honor Flight Myrtle Beach.

Family members living in Kentucky were on their way to the area and could not be reached for comment.