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State police continue investigation of fatal fire

By Jackie Beranek 2 min read

VANDERBILT – State police continue to investigate the March 14 fire that took the life of 47-year-old Denise Morgan Fuller of Vanderbilt. State police Cpl. Greg Keefer said police are still investigating the cause of the fire and are waiting for results from the lab before they make a decision as to whether the fire was accidental or a homicide.

“We haven’t ruled either way on the fire at this point,” said Keefer. “We have also interviewed several people, but none of them are considered suspects at this time.”

Fuller died from inhaling smoke and fumes after her rented mobile home caught fire at 1:30 a.m. DL&V Fire Chief Jack Washabaugh said that when firefighters arrived at the fire, the home was engulfed in flames.

Fayette County Coroner Dr. Phillip Reilly said an autopsy performed by Allegheny County Coroner Dr. Cyril Wecht showed Fuller died of asphyxiation, a lack of oxygen to the brain, due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Toxicology tests also were performed but were negative, added Reilly.

According to Washabaugh, the fire started in the living room of the home and moved quickly.

Washabaugh said that whenever firefighters get called to a mobile home fire, they move quickly because the homes tend to burn rapidly.

He also said firefighters, who reached the home within three minutes because it was located less than a block away from the fire station, found Fuller in a hallway leading to the bedroom, where there was an outside door.

Fuller’s sister-in-law Millie Morgan of Vanderbilt said she thought Fuller was trying to get to the door. She also said that her mother-in-law talked to Fuller on the phone about 30 minutes before the fire broke out.

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