SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Anna Vanbuskirk is still grappling with what happened to her childhood home -- she moved back into it 10 years ago -- on McGee Street. None of it makes sense, she says.
"I'm hoping they find out who did it, and I can answer some questions as to why -- who and why" said Vanbuskirk.
It started around 9 o'clock Tuesday night.
"We heard this bang," said Vanbuskirk.
She and her boyfriend rushed out the door to check out the noise.
That's when they discovered a silver SUV had crashed through the garage and caught fire.
"We grabbed the water hose and we tried to contain it," said Vanbuskirk.
The flames and smoke left the garage and much of the house a charred shell. While the image of what's left behind is clear, what's not clear is who did it.
"The driver of the vehicle is not known, right now. We've searched the vehicle, we've searched the house and the surrounding area and there's no one around," said Springfield Fire Department Battalion Chief David Scheiderer.
Police are also investigating the matter. Investigators thought on Tuesday night that the
vehicle is from out of the area, and said detectives would look into whether it's stolen. Nobody in the police department would comment on Wednesday on whether the vehicle might be from Springfield with a stolen license plate.
Even more puzzling, says Anna, is what authorities told her.
"They said that there was a yard ornament that had been put on the accelerator petal."
Pointing to a cement statue of a little girl in her yard, Vanbuskirk said she believes that was the ornament.
"I didn't recognize it. I'd never seen it before."
She also didn't recognize the SUV that caused all the damage. When asked who may have done it, she replied, "I can't even think of who might."
Vanbuskirk hopes police will provide answers soon. In the meantime, she's not sure when she'll be able to move back home.
"I don't have insurance. Nope," she said.
When asked what she's going to do, she said, "A piece at a time. Piece it back together, just a piece at a time -- that's all I can do."
The American Red Cross put Vanbuskirk and her boyfriend up in a hotel for a few days.
