Victim identified in deadly Smithville house fire

Leah Rainwater

SMITHVILLE, Mo. (KQTV) — The Smithville Police Department released the identification of the victim who died in a house fire Wednesday night.

An autopsy completed on Friday, Jan. 30, by Frontier Forensics Midwest revealed the victim to be Scott Ritzinger, 71, of Smithville.

The Smithville Police Department said at this time, there are no indications of foul play and the final determination of cause and manner of death is pending the completion of the Medical Examiner’s investigation.

The department said further updates will be released as appropriate.