KANSAS CITY — Officials say they found a body has been found in the rubble of a popular Country Club Plaza restaurant that exploded Tuesday night. According to preliminary reports, the body was found near the bar area of J.J.’s Restaurant. There was no immediate word if the body was that of a missing woman who worked at the restaurant. Firefighters had spent the night and this morning searching the three to four feet of rubble in the restaurant. Officials also said they were also looking for three other people who are missing. The restaurant blew up Tuesday evening, resulting in a massive fire. At least 15 people were injured, some critically. Michael Mahoney of ABC affiliate KMBC Channel 9 says it appears the fire was caused by a gas explosion which may have been the result a gas leak caused by a construction company breaking a natural gas line undergrou. Firefighters were called to the restaurant before the blast because of a heavy natural gas smell and were emptying the building before the explosion, he reported.
Wednesday, Feb. 20, 4 p.m.
