The families of five people killed in a house fire outside Canton released a statement Friday thanking the community for its support. The fire killed Jasmine Henson and four of her children, who were 10, 8, 5 and 3 years old. Henson was the daughter of Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office Investigator Donny Henson. Her longtime partner, Cody Mitchell, and their 7-year-old son, Grayson, survived.
In a joint statement on behalf of the Henson and Mitchell families, relatives thanked emergency responders, school districts, businesses and donors from across Texas and the country. The families also thanked educators and staff at Canton ISD, Grand Saline ISD and Olive Tree Academy. Canton ISD and Grand Saline ISD both scheduled early releases Friday so students, faculty and staff could attend the funeral services.
The statement said community members organized cookouts, fundraisers, meal trains and supply drives to help Mitchell and his son rebuild. The families asked for continued prayers for both households and for the family of Van Zandt County Deputy Adam Sherifi, who was fatally shot while serving warrants in a separate incident the same week.