Tenth Death in Fall River Assisted Living Fire

UPDATE No. 2: The Bristol County District Attorney's Office said Ms. Cropper passed away from her injuries on Friday, July 18 at 4:43 p.m.

UPDATE: The Bristol County District Attorney's Office sent out a release on Friday morning stating it had erroneously announced the passing of Brenda Cropper.

“Please be advised that due to a miscommunication with a medical agency, the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office reported the passing of Brenda Cropper as a result of the Gabriel Assisted Living Center Fire,” the D.A.’s Office said. “Ms. Cropper remains in critical condition at this time. The BCDAO has been in contact with Ms. Cropper’s family regarding this matter. We will provide updates when they become available.”

FALL RIVER (WBSM) — A tenth victim has passed away from the Gabriel House Assisted Living fire in Fall River.

Victim Identified as Brenda Copper

Brenda Copper, 66, had been hospitalized in critical condition since the July 13 fire. WPRI reported she suffered significant burns over her entire body, and had been given only a 10 percent chance of survival.

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced today that she had succumbed to her injuries late in the day yesterday.

Full List of Fire Victims So Far

The D.A.’s Office had previously identified seven of the victims in the aftermath of the fire:Rui Albernaz, 64; Ronald Codega, 61; Margaret Duddy, 69; Robert King, 78; Kim Mackin, 71; Richard Rochon, 78; and Eleanor Willett, 86.

On Wednesday, it was announced that Joseph Wilansky, 77, was the eighth identified victim. The D.A.’s Office said then that there was also a 70-year-old female who has not been publicly identified yet as notification of next of kin is still pending.

Investigation Into the Fire Continues

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Section assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Fall River Fire and Police Departments, and Massachusetts State Troopers assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.