On Sunday, December 15 at approximately 9:45 a.m., deputies with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a possible fire fatality on County Road 2625 in the Oakdale Community. Deputy Jake Gross arrived on location and confirmed that there was a deceased individual in the remains of the structure. Family members advised the residence was occupied by Bobby Joe Cartwright.

 

Lieutenant Investigator Del Birdwell responded to perform the Fire Investigation. In talking with family members, it was discovered Cartwright had not been seen since the evening of Friday, December 13. The structure was located at the back of the property and discovered burned on Sunday morning.

 

The fire was ruled as accidental, starting in the front room around a wood heater. Judge Marla Denby, JP 2 performed the death inquest. Cartwright was taken to Forensic Medical of Texas for an autopsy.