Aiken County criminal investigator Lt. Billy Fleury (left in doorway) and forensic investigator Clay Adams (right in doorway) investigate inside the house at 103 Russell St. in Beech Island, S.C., where a fire occurred Wednesday morning. Travis Dingler, 17, was inside at the time and died from smoke inhalation and thermal injuries, according to the Aiken County coroner. Andrew Davis Tucker/Staff

House fire kills teen

BEECH ISLAND - A 17-year-old former Midland Valley High School student, described by neighbors as a "sweet kid," died in a fire early Wednesday morning in his father's Beech Island home.

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Friends and neighbors Heather Sholter (from left), R.J. Brantley and Savannah Sholter place flowers in front of the mailbox at the destroyed house hours after the deadly fire. Savannah, a 15-year-old friend of Travis' sister, said he used to skateboard with R.J., her brother. "Everybody's cried a lot today. We're all really upset," she said. Andrew Davis Tucker/Staff

Travis Dingler was discovered in the hallway of the burning single-story brick home on Russell Street by firefighters shortly after 7 a.m., Aiken County sheriff's Lt. Michael Frank said. The cause of the fire, which apparently started in a living room, has not been determined, Lt. Frank said. Travis was the only person home at the time.

Next-door neighbor Angela Campbell said Travis had gone to stay with his mother and returned to the house in his Chevrolet pickup at about 6 a.m. Wednesday.

"He pulled the truck in, went inside, and that was the last anybody saw of him,'' Mrs. Campbell said.

After an autopsy in Newberry, S.C., interim Aiken County Coroner Bob Haythorn said Travis died of smoke inhalation and thermal injuries.

"He was knocked out before the flames got to him," Mr. Haythorn said. "It was definitely the fire that did it."

Travis attended Midland Valley High for only one month last year, said Principal Margaret Mullins, who said it was unclear whether he was enrolled for the coming school year.

Savannah Sholter, a 15-year-old neighbor and best friend of Travis' younger sister Josie, said Travis would often walk her home at night. She had spoken with him as recently as Tuesday.

"He was really sweet to me,'' she said.

On Wednesday afternoon, Savannah and her mother, Heather Sholter, placed flowers, a candle and a skateboard outside the home.

"He used to skateboard with my little brother R.J. when he was 10,'' Savannah said.

"He had a lot of friends, and he was always very polite and mannerly, always," said Mrs. Campbell, whose son Carvie spent time with Travis.

Ms. Sholter said friends and neighbors were still in shock.

"He was a good kid, a sweet kid - it's just horrible that he's gone.''

Reach Stephen Gurr at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or stephen.gurr@augustachronicle.com.

--From the Thursday, July 29, 2004 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle