Autopsies planned for man, woman found dead after W. Richland fire
Investigators are still working to identify two people found dead inside a burning West Richland home last week.
The two people, believed to be a man and woman, along with a dog were discovered dead inside a concrete block home on 112726 N. Harrington Road in rural area near West Richland.
The coroner’s office is still working to confirm if the people inside were the couple who lived there, Benton County Coroner Bill Leach told the Tri-City Herald.
The home was built in 1970 and is on agricultural property owned by the estate of the late Frank Tiegs, according to property records.
Flames were spotted by witnesses about 6:30 a.m. Friday. By the time that Benton County Fire District 4 firefighters reached the area, the home was fully engulfed.
As firefighters put out the blaze they discovered the first body. A second body was discovered after the fire died down.
The fire destroyed the home, leaving only the concrete floor and the brick walls.
One of the people was found in the kitchen and the other was in the dining area, Leach said.
It’s unclear at this point if the people were trying to escape the home, or if there were smoke alarms.
It’s also uncertain if the people died in the fire. Autopsies are scheduled for Tuesday.
West Richland police are in charge of the investigation into the home. They have not released any information about the status of the investigation.