ANDERSON — A Frankton native and former fashion model died Sunday in an apartment fire in Vincennes.
Heather Arrick, who went by the name “Heather Stohler” in her professional life, was killed Sunday morning after a fire swept through the upstairs apartment she shared with her boyfriend.
Arrick, 29, grew up in Frankton before moving to Florida. She went on to a modeling career that took her to the runways of Europe, got her into photo shoots with Kate Moss for Calvin Klein and landed her on the cover of major fashion magazines.
“I’ve known her since I was 12,” said Travis May, 30, who met Arrick while both were attending Frankton Junior High School. “She was great, very thoughtful. She never forgot the little things, like your birthday.”
The Vincennes Fire Department was notified at 8:48 a.m. Sunday of a fire at 604 Broadway St. by another tenant of the building.
“Upon arrival, flames were visible,” Vincennes Fire Chief Mike Lankford told the Sun-Commercial. “About three-fourths of the apartment was a total loss, and the estimated damage amount is over $15,000.”
Arrick and her live-in boyfriend, 26-year-old Daniel Risley, were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital. Risley was transferred to Wishard Memorial Hospital in Indianapolis, but was pronounced dead around 1 a.m. Tuesday. Lankford said Risley suffered burns over a “substantial” portion of his body.
Knox County Coroner Dan Halter told fire officials Arrick died of smoke inhalation. Fire officials ruled the fire that consumed the apartment was accidental, but no exact cause has been released.
Arrick was born Nov. 29, 1978. May said she was raised by her adoptive parents, Ron and Jackie Arrick, in Frankton. After graduating from Frankton High School, she moved to Riverview, Fla., to join her biological mother, Angela Edwards.
It was in Florida that Arrick discovered her modeling potential.
“It was one of those modeling things at the local mall,” May said. “She tried out, and she was just a natural, so she ran with it.”
Arrick had the kind of strong bone structure models are known for, yet possessed a softness in her face. She had deep-set eyes that convey a sense of mystery in many of her photos. At 5-feet-9, she was ideal for modeling.
She joined the Elite Model Management and Ford Models agencies and was later represented by Donald Trump Management. Arrick modeled clothing for Calvin Klein, appeared in ads with Kate Moss and graced the cover of Marie Claire’s German edition and Vogue’s Italian edition.
“She was a model for close to 10 years,” May said. “She was on the cover of Vogue nine times. She did shows in Paris, Milan, New York. She lived in London for five years and had an apartment in Manhattan for four or five years.”
May said he spoke to Arrick by phone less than a year ago, at which time she was living in Florida. Tim Allen, Arrick’s cousin, told the Sun-Commercial that Arrick left the modeling world a few years ago and speculated that Risley had family in the Vincennes area, though none has come forward.
Obituary information for Arrick mentions six brothers, two of whom — Christopher Carrigg and Jeffrey Pressley — are listed as residing in Anderson. Another brother, Darron Arrick, is listed as living in Lafayette.
According to information provided by her family, Arrick liked to read about herbs and natural remedies and enjoyed gardening and cooking.
“She was pretty quiet,” he said. “Really quiet and shy. She will be missed.”
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8:26 p.m.: Ex-model from Frankton killed in fire
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