Missouri college professor and her four kids killed in ‘suspicious’ house fire

A one-time Missouri teacher of the year died alongside her four children in a house fire that has been labeled “suspicious” with evidence of criminal activity.

Community college professor Bernadine “Birdie” Pruessner was found dead along with her kids Millie Spader, 2, Jackson Spader, 5, and 9-year-old twins Ellie and Ivy Pruessner, the St. Lois Post-Dispatch reported.

They perished in the fire that ripped through their home in Ferguson about 4:30 a.m. Monday. Three dogs also died, but numerous rabbits, chickens and cats survived, officials said.

“The smoke was so bad,” recalled neighbor Jerry McClure, who called 911. “I tried to kick the front door. We just couldn’t wake them up.”

Authorities labeled the deadly blaze “suspicious” after finding unspecified signs of criminal activity. St. Louis County police Sgt. Tracy Panus would only say that “evidence located on the property” made the cause of the fire suspicious, but declined to elaborate.

St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson detectives are assisting in the investigation, and a search warrant has been obtained for the family’s van, Fox 2 Now reported.

Pruessner’s dad, Cordell Beache, said he’d spent Sunday night with his “amazing” daughter and “very bright” grandchildren.

A neighbor, Jamie Young, recalled being overwhelmed as he embraced the grieving dad and granddad.

“He told me, ‘That’s my daughter and my four grandbabies,’ and I just … my heart just went out for him,” Young told KSDK of Beache. “I’m crying with him now. All I could do is just pray for the family.”

Pruessner was working as an assistant professor in the child development department at Lewis & Clark Community College and was close to receiving her doctorate in early childhood education, Beache told the St. Lois Post-Dispatch.

One of her colleagues, Nic Jones, said she was “extremely innovative” and passionate about her work, adding that she was “at the forefront here at Lewis and Clark in providing access and opportunities to students who would not normally have the chance to study here.

“She was a wonderful woman,” he said.

In 2013, Pruessner received the Missouri Teacher of the Year Award from the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence, KSDK reported.

She also was a published author of a book on education titled “Making it Montessori,” according to the outlet.

Cathy Kelly, a spokeswoman for the Parkway School District, confirmed to KSDK that Ellie and Ivy were fourth-graders at Mason Ridge Elementary School.

About 14 rabbits, three chickens and two cats survived the fire, according to police and the Ferguson Animal Coalition, the outlet said.

The group’s Dara Ashby said the animals were on a separate part of the property away from the flames.

“The animals were very happy and had food and water and I know the owner. She loved them dearly. And so I’m happy that I could help in some way, to help her animals,” Ashby told KSDK.

“It’s a tragedy for our community. She was a wonderful person and loved her kids, loved her family, loved her animals. She was just, a treasure to our community. So this is a huge loss,” she said.

With Post wires