WHITMORE LAKE, Michigan — Michigan police have identified the victims of a fatal house explosion as members of an Arkansas family who were visiting relatives for the holiday season. The explosion took the lives of Hope Bragg, 51, her husband Don Bragg, 53, and their children, Kenneth Bragg, 22, and Elizabeth Bragg, 19, all from Monticello, Arkansas.
The explosion left the Bragg family devastated, with Hope Bragg’s 72-year-old father and the house’s owner, Richard Pruden, in critical condition. The couple’s son Stephen Bragg, 16, was in stable condition. Pruden had suffered burns, leaving him in a coma with burns over 20% of his body, according to Monticello Superintendent of Schools Sandra Lanehart.
The Bragg family was deeply involved in their local community, belonging to a local chapter of the Arkansas Archaeological Society and supporting efforts to promote science and unearth history. Don Bragg was a professor at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, while local media reported that Hope Bragg was a Forest Service scientist and a 4-H instructor at the University of Arkansas Extension Service.
The explosion, which happened just before 4 p.m. on Saturday, left behind only the basement and a 2-acre debris field, according to police. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation, but early indications suggested it was an undetermined fuel air explosion, with no foul play suspected at this time.
The community mourns the loss of the Bragg family, with friends and neighbors remembering them as a generous and caring family. The devastating loss has left an impact on the school district, UAM, and Drew County, according to Lanehart. The Bragg family’s passion for nature, archaeology, and music had a positive impact on the community, state, and beyond.
This tragic incident has left the community reeling, as investigators continue to piece together what led to the catastrophic explosion. As the investigation unfolds, the memories of the Bragg family’s contributions to their community and their passion for learning and science will remain a treasured part of their legacy.