A woman was reportedly found deceased on the afternoon of March 12 after the Baldwin
County Sheriff's Department, Baldwin County Fire Rescue, and EMS responded to a call
regarding a structure fire.
BCSD Officer Dawson Smith was initially dispatched to Carolyn Court and spoke with the
complainant. They stated they looked out of their window and could not see anything but heard
a loud “pop” upon leaving their residence, according to the report. The resident reported seeing
black smoke and flames coming from the back of the residence, and as he went inside to call
911, he reportedly heard someone yelling from behind the residence.
Detectives Sgt. Greg See, Reid White, and Shawn Isley responded to the scene to gather more
information. They reported upon arrival there was a Chevrolet Traverse on fire behind an
abandoned apartment complex.
“The engine compartment was completely burnt up and the interior of the vehicle,” See said. “A
power pole beside the vehicle was slightly damaged, but it was already disconnected. Nothing
else was damaged.”
A woman was found behind the wheel of the vehicle. According to the incident report, the victim
was identified as 50-year-old Stephanie White Paden of Monticello. According to The Union
Recorder, authorities on scene said she had been burned beyond recognition.
“She was positively identified through a tattoo partially intact,” See said in an interview with The
Baldwin Bulletin.
Paden was pronounced deceased at the scene by Baldwin County Deputy Coroner Amanda
Thigpen. Her time of death was listed as 2:30 p.m.
According to See, an autopsy report was still to be completed as of Friday, March 14, and a
cause of death was not yet determined.
“The cause of the fire was determined to be the heat from the engine igniting the foliage
underneath the car,” said See. “As of today (March 14) Paden has been sent for an autopsy and
we are waiting for the results.”