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#Post#: 224--------------------------------------------------
SUSPICIOUS FIRE IN SAN FRAN HOME
By: wolfie Date: April 22, 2011, 8:55 pm
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Fatal House Fire Stumps Investigators
Mother & 8-Year-Old Son Died In Fire
David Bienick/KCRA
POSTED: 3:46 pm PDT April 22, 2011
UPDATED: 4:44 pm PDT April 22, 2011
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Fire crews battling a house fire in North Highlands found two
bodies inside.
NORTH HIGHLANDS, Calif. -- Investigators said Friday that they
are stumped about a fatal house fire earlier this month in North
Highlands.
The fire happened at about 8 p.m. on April 6. After it was put
out, firefighters found the bodies of 38-year-old Laura
Fernandez and her 8-year-old son, Wilfred Villarruel.
Investigators have determined that the fire is a case of arson,
but declined to release what evidence has led them to that
conclusion.
"At this point they think it's pretty clear-cut arson. They've
collected evidence that would suggest that. And they're
satisfied that's the case," Assistant Chief Scott Cockrum told
KCRA 3.
Charred clothing and furniture sat Friday afternoon on the lawn
in front of the heavily damaged house on Stephen Drive.
One neighbor, who declined to give her name, said she was not
surprised that the fire was arson. She said that the fire seemed
to have been burning for some time, and so anyone inside should
have been able to escape.
Neighbors said Fernandez lived in the house with a man who was
either her husband or boyfriend, plus two teenaged boys. They
said the man was not the father of Wilfred.
A priest at nearby St. Lawrence Catholic Church confirmed that
Fernandez and her family were regular parishoners.
Assistant Chief Cockrum said the man and the teenagers were
attending a cub scout meeting on the evening of the fire.
"I don't know that anybody's a suspect. I don't know anybody
that's been eliminated. But it's an ongoing investigation," said
Cockrum.
Cockrum added that investigators have also not been able to rule
out the possibility that one of the victims might have set the
fire.
Autopsy results are still pending. They should should show if
Fernandez and her son sustained any other injuries and if they
died before or during the fire.
Sacramento Area Firefighter Local 522 has offered a reward of
$1000 leading to an arrest and prosecution.
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