New Canaanites Mourn 'Tragic' Death of Johnson

NEW CANAAN, Conn. – Officials in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., were still investigating the cause of a fire that claimed the life of a New Canaan man and two others near Marist College.

Kevin Johnson, 21, is reportedly one of three people who died after a Saturday fire at a home near the college.

The fire was still being actively investigated, Town of Poughkeepsie Police Chief Thomas Mauro said Monday. Mauro said it appears the three deaths were all due to smoke inhalation, though officials are awaiting completion of a medical examiner’s report. Mauro expects to officially release the names of the deceased Monday afternoon.

“The investigation is quite active,” Mauro said. “We are still investigating the cause and origin of the fire because of the condition of the structure and that we had to collapse it.”

Johnson graduated from New Canaan High School in 2008 and was reportedly a former Marist student. New Canaan Police Sgt. Carol Ogrinc, the department’s youth officer, said she remembered Johnson as an avid skateboarder who worked on a committee that sought to build a skate park for kids.

“He was just very polite and down to earth. He seemed like a good-hearted kid,” Ogrinc said. “It’s really a shame. It’s so tragic.”

Selectman Beth Jones, who knew Johnson through her nephew Trevor Harvey, offered her condolences while at New Canaan Town Hall. “It’s an unbelievable tragedy,” she said.

Funeral services for Johnson will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Aloysius Church. Calling hours will be 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Hoyt Funeral Home.  

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