GRANITE CITY – Madison County Coroner Nicholas P. Novacich on Thursday afternoon, Aug. 20, 2026, identified Linda Ellis, 76, as the Granite City area woman who died early this morning at Gateway Regional Medical Center after she was removed from her Johnson Road residence following a structure fire.
The Granite City Fire Department was responding to an unrelated medical call when firefighters observed flames coming from the windows of Ellis’ residence, according to the coroner’s office. The home was known to be the residence of an elderly woman.
A Granite City Police officer overheard the radio traffic and responded to the scene to assist. Ellis was immediately removed from the home but was without signs of life, authorities said.
Life-support efforts were initiated, and Ellis was taken to the emergency department at Gateway Regional Medical Center. She was pronounced dead at 4:26 a.m.
The coroner said an autopsy is scheduled for a later date. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The case remains under investigation by the Granite City Fire Department, the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Granite City Police Department and the Madison County Coroner’s Office.
