Xenia middle schooler and his great-grandmother die in house fire

Kevin Jenkins Jr. and Linda Bartlett died in a Clinton County fire; fundraiser being held for family Dec. 12
Kevin Jenkins Jr, 11, and his great-grandmother, Linda Bartlett, died in a house fire Tuesday. WCPO/CONTRIBUTED

Kevin Jenkins Jr, 11, and his great-grandmother, Linda Bartlett, died in a house fire Tuesday. WCPO/CONTRIBUTED

An 11-year-old Xenia boy and his great-grandmother died earlier this week in a Clinton County house fire.

The victims were identified as 11-year-old Kevin Jenkins Jr., a sixth-grader at Warner Middle School, and 79-year-old Linda Bartlett, according to our news partner WCPO.

Kevin played football for the Xenia Wee Bucs, which posted on their Facebook page Wednesday that the Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants in Xenia and Wilmington will hold fundraisers Dec. 12, with a portion of sales going to the family.

“Our condolences go out to all of Kevin’s family and friends,” the team’s post said. “Our hearts are breaking and we know this will effect everyone who knew Kevin.”

Fire officials said a home on South High Street in Martinsville, about 25 miles south of Xenia, caught fire at around 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, WCPO reported. A dog and three cats also perished in the fire.

The fire remains under investigation by the state fire marshal, though family members said much of the smoke was concentrated around Bartlett’s bedroom, WCPO reported.

A Xenia sixth-grader, 11-year-old Kevin Jenkins Jr., and his great-grandmother were killed in a Dec. 5, 2023, house fire in Clinton County. WCPO

Credit: WCPO

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Credit: WCPO

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