FAYETTE, Mo. — Roy Holloway, 67, has been identified as the third and final victim of a fatal fire that swept through Perkins Residential Care Center on January 27, 2026, according to a newly released Missouri state fire marshal report. Holloway, along with Marcia Lyon, 63, of Armstrong, and Donald Bittle, 62, of Fayette, perished in the early morning blaze that destroyed the assisted living facility at 204 Villers Drive.
How the Fire Unfolded
The fire broke out at approximately 6:30 a.m. on January 27 at the residential care facility, which was structured as a mobile home with a full basement, according to multiple local news reports. Six people were inside the building at the time.
A Perkins employee discovered the fire after hearing a smoke detector activate and managed to evacuate two residents from the first floor before calling 911, as reported by KOMU 8. However, efforts to reach residents on the upper level were unsuccessful due to the rapid spread of flames. Three other residents escaped the fire, including one woman who used a wheelchair.
The volunteer Fayette Fire Department arrived shortly before 7 a.m. to find the structure fully engulfed. Fire Chief Steven Morrow told KRCG TV 13 that the intensity of the blaze prevented any interior firefighting operations: "When we arrived on scene, it was fully involved. There was no interior attack from us. It was all exterior." The Glasgow Fire Department also responded to provide mutual aid, and the fire was brought under control by approximately 8 a.m., according to the Fayette Advertiser.
Fire Marshal Findings
The state fire marshal's report, obtained by ABC 17 News, revealed that Holloway's body was discovered near a doorway of the building, while Lyon and Bittle were found in the upper portion of the southeast side of the structure. Autopsy results confirmed that all three victims died from smoke inhalation.
Investigators from the Missouri Division of Fire Safety recovered multiple space heaters from the debris, as reported by KRCG. Specifically, state fire investigator Joe Jones documented three heating devices in the wreckage: one small electric space heater and two entertainment center heating elements, according to KOMU 8. The facility's owner reportedly told investigators that the entertainment center heaters had not been in use and denied any knowledge of the space heater.
Despite the discovery of the heating devices, investigators were unable to establish a definitive cause of the fire due to the extent of structural damage. The fire resulted in a total loss estimated at $400,000, and the cause remains officially listed as "undetermined," according to the fire marshal's report. Missouri Division of Fire Safety spokesman Mike O'Connell stated that the fire "is considered accidental," as reported by the Fayette Advertiser.
Facility Background and Oversight
Perkins Residential Care Center operated as an Individualized Supported Living facility under Missouri regulatory oversight. The structure housed six residents in a doublewide trailer configuration with two ground-floor bedrooms and two basement-level bedrooms, according to the Fayette Advertiser's reporting.
The Missouri Department of Mental Health had conducted a survey of the facility in October 2024 and reported no fire safety concerns at that time, according to the Fayette Advertiser. The January fire has raised broader questions about fire safety standards and oversight at smaller residential care operations in Missouri. Facilities of this type — sometimes classified as assisted living or supported living rather than skilled nursing — may be subject to different regulatory frameworks than larger nursing homes licensed under federal CMS standards.
The complete destruction of the building has complicated efforts to determine precisely what fire safety equipment was operational at the time of the blaze and whether all required safety measures were in place.
Ownership & Operations
Perkins Residential Care Center was privately operated as a small residential facility in the rural Howard County community of Fayette. Details regarding the ownership structure and any other facilities operated by the same owner have not been widely reported. The facility's owner cooperated with state fire investigators during the post-fire inquiry, according to information cited in multiple news reports. It remains unclear whether any regulatory actions or additional investigations related to the facility's operations are pending.
Resources for Families
Families with loved ones in assisted living or residential care facilities in Missouri who have concerns about safety conditions are encouraged to contact the following resources:
- Missouri Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: Advocates who can investigate complaints and help resolve issues related to care quality, safety, and resident rights. - National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center Hotline: 1-800-677-1116 - Online Resources: The National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center at ltcombudsman.org provides guidance on filing complaints and understanding resident protections.
Federal and state regulations require residential care facilities to maintain functioning smoke detection systems, develop emergency evacuation plans, and conduct regular fire drills. Families should ask facility administrators about fire safety protocols, the most recent inspection results, and emergency preparedness procedures. Any immediate safety concerns should be reported to local fire authorities and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
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