Two Children and Adult Killed in Overnight Storm in Clark Mills

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UPDATED:

CLARK MILLS, NY — Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol confirmed a tragic outcome following a powerful storm that swept through the region overnight into the early hours of June 22, 2025. The storm, which brought fierce winds and heavy rain, caused trees to topple onto homes across the county, prompting an outpouring of emergency response efforts and, sadly, resulting in three fatalities.

In the Town of Kirkland, 911 dispatchers received multiple calls from residents reporting fallen trees and structural damage to homes. Among the most devastating calls came from a residence on Millstream Court, where a massive tree had crashed onto the home. Inside were a man and a woman. The male occupant, who managed to call for help, reported that the woman appeared to be unresponsive and that he could not reach her due to the extent of the destruction.

Deputies and emergency crews arrived quickly, but the damage was severe. The woman, later identified as Shelly Johnson, 50, was found inside and tragically pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation was turned over to the Criminal Investigations Unit and the Forensic Identification Unit.

Just hours later, another heart-wrenching scene unfolded on Hoyland Avenue. A mother and her two young daughters were inside their home when another large tree collapsed onto the structure. The roof gave way, temporarily trapping the mother, who called 911 in a panic as she was unable to locate her children in the wreckage.

Investigators arrived and located both girls inside. Emily Bisson and Kenni Bisson, both 6 years old, were pronounced dead at the scene. The case is being handled with great care by investigators and forensic teams.

At this time, authorities have determined that all three deaths were caused by natural forces during the storm.

The Oneida County Sheriff's Office extended heartfelt condolences to the grieving families and praised the collaborative efforts of numerous responding agencies.

Among those assisting were:

• Town of Kirkland Police Department

• New York State Police

• Clark Mills, New York Mills, Westmoreland, Clinton, and Ilion Fire Departments

• Ilion Fire Search & Rescue

• Central Oneida County Volunteer Ambulance Corps

• Red Cross

• Homeland Security

• Oneida County Office of Emergency Services

• Oneida County Department of Social Services

• Onondaga Medical Examiner’s Office

• Greater Heights Tree Care

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ORIGINAL POST BELOW:

CLARK MILLS, NY — June 22, 2025 — A powerful overnight storm turned deadly in Oneida County, claiming the lives of three Clark Mills residents, including two children.

Two of the victims, both children, were killed in one home. A third victim, an adult, was found dead in a separate nearby residence.

As of this morning, a large-scale emergency response is concentrated behind a home on Hoyland Avenue, where crews are working through the storm’s aftermath. Just down the road, law enforcement and rescue teams are also active at a second location on Millstream Court.

Noticeably, several units from the Ilion Fire Department were on the scene assisting, highlighting the scale and urgency of the situation.

The names of the victims have not yet been released, and officials continue to investigate the exact circumstances surrounding the fatalities. Throughout the night, emergency crews were stretched thin as the storm left a trail of destruction across the region.

This remains a developing story. I will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

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