Stockbridge boy tries to pull older sister from burning home

A Henry County woman was killed during an early morning house fire. Her younger brother is in the hospital after he ran back into the house to try to save her.

Douglas Hilko says his 15-year-old brother-in-law, Michael Haney, was able to wake his parents when the deadly fire broke out early Sunday morning on Georgia Highway 138 near Redwood Valley Road in Stockbridge.

Hilko says Haney ran back into the home to try to rescue his 25-year-old sister, Karen Prichard, but collapsed before he could get her out of the burning home. The teenager was rushed to the burn unit at Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta in critical condition.

Prichard, who family members say had special needs, was pronounce dead at Piedmont Henry Hospital according to Henry County officials.

Neighbors say when firefighters arrived, they pulled both siblings from the home.

Henry County fire investigators say the fire started in a room located in the basement, but the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Family members say a total of nine people lived in this home including a three and four year old. They say they've lost everything, and the Red Cross is going to be able to provide some assistance. They are calling the 15-year-old boy a hero.

Henry County fire authorities say the home did have one smoke alarm located in the kitchen, but there was no battery in it at the time of the fire.