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February 14, 2013

Body found inside burned home

By Jessica Bruha The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — Norman firefighters found a body with thermal burns after extinguishing a residential fire Wednesday morning.

Fire and police responded to the scene around 11 a.m. at 619 Villa Drive. Norman Police Captain Tom Easley said they are investigating the fire as suspicious and “have been from the very start.”

The fire department has completed its side of the investigation, he said. Neither the gender and name of the victim nor the cause of the fire has been released yet.

Easley said they are awaiting confirmation from the medical examiner before releasing the identity, cause and manner of the victim’s death.

A neighbor a few doors down, Jake Armstrong, said the two who lived in the house were a mother and son. He believed the mother was in her 70s and the son was in his 50s.

Armstrong said the son usually came home from lunch in the afternoon, but he had not seen him Wednesday.

The neighbor also said the two had a dog living with them named Jake. Deputy Fire Chief Jim Bailey said firefighters found a deceased dog in the home and animal control removed him from the scene.

When firefighters arrived, heavy smoke was coming from a roof vent, Bailey said.

Armstrong said when he arrived at his home around 10:30 a.m., he had seen just a little bit of smoke coming from the top of the house and firefighters were there within minutes.

“It’s such a tragedy,” Armstrong said.

Firefighters were able to put the fire out within 10 to 15 minutes.

Jessica Bruha

366-3540

jbruha@normantranscript.com

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