FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2011


Thirty-one individuals confirmed as deceased as result of Joplin tornado

State officials release list of individuals whose next-of- kin have received notifications of their deaths

The Missouri Department of Public Safety tonight announced that 31 individuals have been confirmed as deceased as a result of the tornado that devastated Joplin on May 22.
At the direction of Gov. Jay Nixon, Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers have been deployed to expedite the notification of next-of –kin.   As of 9 p.m. Friday, May 27, the deceased victims whose next-of-kin have received notifications of their deaths are:   Grace Aquino, 46, of Joplin Tami L. Campbell, 28, Joplin Trenton Caton, 6, Pierce City Raymond Chew, 66, Joplin Clyde Coleman, 72, Galena, Kansas Adam Darnaby, 27, Joplin Ellen Doyle, 75, Joplin Caley Hare, 16, Joplin Hayze Howard, 1, Webb City Harli Howard, 11, Webb City Thomas Russell Howard, 29, Webb City Nancy Martin, Miami, Oklahoma, age not confirmed Randall E. Mell, 49, Joplin Donald R. Miller, 49, Joplin Doris Montgomery, 83, Joplin Sharyl Nelson, 34, Joplin Dennis M. Osborn, 34, Seneca Shelly Marie Ramsey, 42, Neosho Loretta Randell, 54, Joplin Troy Raney, 39, Joplin Johnny Richey, 52, Joplin Tonya L. Sawyer, 41, Fort Scott, Kansas Judy Smith, 71, Joplin Virginia Solomon, 80, Joplin Kayleigh Teal, 16, Pittsburg, Kansas John Thomas, Jr., 40, Joplin Sandra K. Thomas, 55, Carthage Margaret Tuit, 92, Joplin Miles Wells, 49, Webb City Tiera Whitley, 20, Fulton, Kansas Zach Williams, 12, Joplin   The Department of Public Safety will release a daily update of those individuals confirmed as deceased as a result of the tornado, following notification of next-of-kin. The updates will be available on the department Web site, www.dps.mo.gov.

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For more information, call 573-751-5432 or e-mail mike.oconnell@dps.mo.gov