Firefighters find woman’s body inside burning Kennewick house
The body of a woman was discovered early Wednesday when Kennewick firefighters were called to a house on fire.
The woman is believed to be Tara Ulmen Didier, 60, the former sister-in-law of Franklin County Commissioner Clint Didier.
He told the Herald that family members believe she was the one caught in the blaze, though officials initially were not able to recover her body. And she may not be positively identified for several days, said Benton County Coroner Bill Leach.
“She was a fantastic person,” Clint Didier said. “We’re all grieving.
Benton County assessor records show Tara Ulmen Didier bought the home in 2011. She was previously married to Chris Didier from Eltopia.
A passerby spotted flames coming from the house at 2:30 a.m. and called 911.
When firefighters began battling the blaze, they discovered her body inside the home at 220 E. First Ave., said Kennewick police Detective Sgt. Kirk Isakson.
The cause of the fire hasn’t been determined yet.
Kennewick building inspectors were called in to determine if it was safe for police and officials with the Benton County Coroner’s Office to go inside.
The house has heavy structural damage, said officials. The inspectors have restricted some areas, but investigators are able to reach the area where Didier was found.
Investigators had to wait for firefighters to clear the air inside the home before they went inside.
An autopsy is being scheduled, said Leach.
This story was originally published August 19, 2020 at 8:55 AM.