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By Kathy Romita
Piles of human ashes and tiny bone fragments are all that remain of three Smallville residents, Birdy Sikes, Hank Pond and Tyler Randall, who recently met mysterious deaths in separate locations in Smallville. Authorities are investigating these bizarre cases but don't have much to go on. All three resemble an unproven phenomenon known as spontaneous human combustion (SHC). See accompanying article.
Mrs. Birdy Sikes, an elderly, bedridden woman, lived alone. Her remains were discovered by neighbor Annie Burton, who often walked Sikes' beloved dog, Pepper, and then checked on Mrs. Sikes. Burton entered Sikes' house and heard only the television. She recalls, "It was strange because Pepper always greeted me with her yapping--and this time she didn't. I looked in Birdy's bedroom and found a heap of ashes on the sheets but no Birdy. I immediately called the sheriff." Authorities reported that even though Mrs. Sikes used oxygen, the nearby tank didn't explode. Lowell County animal controller Randy Aparo has been searching for Pepper and hopes to find the dog a new home--if Aparo ever locates her.
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