Updated: Victim of fatal fire identified
The victim of a Wednesday morning fire has been identified as Tom Hagerty, 59. The origin and cause of the fire remain under investigation. (Photo by Paul McManis)
McARTHUR — Investigators are asking for the public’s help in their investigation into a fatal fire that occurred Wednesday morning in McArthur.
Thomas Hagerty, 59, of 59973 Route 50, McArthur, was found dead following a fire at his residence, according to a release from the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The origin and cause of the fire remain under investigation.
Investigators from the Division of the State Fire Marshal and Vinton County Sheriff’s Office detectives are conducting interviews with family, neighbors, witnesses and first responders, the release said. They are also looking for citizens who might have seen something out of the ordinary or who have heard someone talking about the fire with an unusual level of knowledge or interest, according to the release.
Anyone who was in the vicinity of the fire between 5 and 6 a.m. is encouraged to call the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office at 740-596-5242.
As is routine in fatal fire investigations, investigators have submitted fire debris to the Division of State Fire Marshal’s Forensic Laboratory in Reynoldsburg, Licking County, for analysis. Results will be made available to fire investigators within seven to 10 days, according to the release.
Hagerty’s body was transported to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Officer for an autopsy, according to a release from the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office.
(Photo courtesy of the State Fire Marshal)
The home is considered a total loss. According to the sheriff’s office release, there was no evidence of smoke alarms in the home.
McArthur Fire Department, Hamden Fire Department, the Vinton County Coroner and the Montgomery County Coroner are assisting with the investigation.
This is the second fire in recent months that has involved the coroner’s office. In October, a man was found dead after an Eagle Twp. fire was extinguished. That fire was ruled an arson and homicide. Two suspects were arrested. One suspect, Celena Danner, has accepted a plea bargain and had charges dropped in exchange for her testimony against the other suspect, Robert Schall.
Stay with The Commoner Journal for updates to this story as it becomes available.
The earlier story on the fire can be found here.
