By Tom Weber, KWMU / AP
St. Louis, MO – A senior at the University of Missouri-St. Louis died early this morning (Wed.) after a fire broke out in the fraternity house where he lived, not far from campus.
Two other people who were in the Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) House on Natural Bridge at the time were able to escape.
Captain Ron Fritz, with the Normandy Fire Department, says the victim, 25-year old Brian Schlittler, was a large man who ended up trapped: "From the way it looks he tried to get out through the stairwell, but since it was already burned out, he cut back and went into the bathroom and went into the shower and tried to save himself that way.
"But he couldn't get out that bathroom window, it was too small.
It's not known how the fire started. One of the three residents arrived home at 3:30 this morning to find the living room couch on fire. He roused his housemates, and told authorities that Schlittler responded, indicating he was going to get out.
But when the other two students got outside, Schlittler wasn't there. Police say that by then, the fire was too intense to go in and get him.
Fraternity members and others started gathering outside the house to console each other as word got out.
Grief counselors will be on campus today, and a memorial is being planned for 7:00 tonight at the Provincial House chapel on campus.
University officials also indicated they would secure housing for the two students who were made homeless by the fire.