House fire ruled suspicious

SIKESTON -- A fire early Thursday in Sikeston has been ruled suspicious and is under investigation.

Sikeston Department of Public Safety's Fire Division responded to the 500 block of John R. Boulevard at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in reference to a structure fire.

"The fire investigator who went in and looked at it didn't find anything there of accidental nature that would have caused the fire so, therefore, the cause of the fire is suspicious," said Capt. Rick Rapert of DPS' Fire Division.

The fire started on the outside of the house on the back wall of the garage and burned a hole through the exterior wall to the inside of the home, Rapert said.

For the complete story, see the Friday edition of the Standard Democrat.