GEAUGA COUNTY, Oh. — Two Bethany College students, engaged to be married, were killed in a fire in Ohio over the weekend.
The Geauga County Coroner identified Jordan Weaver, 20 of Huntsburg, Ohio, and Mitchell Sotera, 20 of Atwater, Ohio, as two of the three fatalities in a county house fire early Saturday.
The third victim was Weaver’s younger brother Joshua, 16.
Bethany College released a statement on Monday:
“We extend our heartfelt condolences and offer our prayers to their families, friends, teammates, professors, and all members of the Bethany community,” Bethany President Rev. Dr. Tamara Nichols Rodenberg said.
“Support services have been made available, and we will continue to do all we can to provide support and comfort at this time.”
FOX 8 in Cleveland reported that firefighters said the fire started in the lower-level living room of the split-level home on Clay Street. The Ohio State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.
Weaver and Sotera were juniors at Bethany.
Weaver was a biology major and a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. The sorority put out a statement on Monday:
Sotera was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. FOX 8 reported Mitchell was a member of the Bethany football team helped lead Kenston High School to multiple successful seasons including a state title in 2018.
There is a GoFundMe account that has been started by the family and friends of the victims.
The college is planning a memorial service for the fall. As the institution is on summer break, counselors are available by emailing counseling@bethanywv.edu.