HARTFORD, Ala. — An Ozark man is coping with the tragic loss of his mother, who was found dead in her Hartford home following an apparent house fire. The incident, which occurred on January 11, has left the family in shock as they process the devastating event.
Rusty Dowell, a lifelong resident of Ozark, recalled that morning as one he would never forget. After several attempts to contact his mother, Barbara Carmichael, Dowell grew concerned when he received no response. He and a family friend decided to visit Carmichael’s home on Rose Avenue in Hartford.
Upon entering the house, Dowell made a heartbreaking discovery. “I go to the left, through the kitchen, and I find my mom. Two feet from the front door,” Dowell said, describing the moment he found his mother’s body. She was believed to have died as a result of a house fire.
According to officials, the fire is believed to have started as early as Friday night, possibly going unnoticed until it was contained within the home. Authorities suggest the fire may have been extinguished by a lack of oxygen in the house. Dowell’s family friend also found Carmichael’s dog deceased inside the home.
Dowell immediately contacted the Geneva County coroner, who then reached out to the Alabama Fire Marshal’s office. The fire is currently under investigation.
Despite the overwhelming grief, Dowell is trying to remain strong for his family. He shared fond memories of his mother, describing her as the person who always kept the family together and was a moral support for everyone around her. “She did keep me in line. Because believe me, one way or another, if I stepped out of line, somebody was getting a phone call,” Dowell recalled with a chuckle. “For the last couple of years, she wasn’t able to do much. But don’t think she wasn’t around.”
At this time, funeral arrangements for Barbara Carmichael have not been made, and the investigation by the Alabama Fire Marshal’s office is ongoing.
