Mystery remains on death of couple inside burned W. Richland home
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Autopsy found no clear trauma; coroner awaits blood test results.
- Firefighters found two bodies in fully engulfed West Richland concrete home.
- Police lead probe; investigators struggle to confirm identities of couple.
Autopsies for a man and woman found inside a burned West Richland home found no obvious signs that they were killed before the fire started.
But Benton County Coroner Bill Leach said he’s waiting for blood tests before he can say for certain that they died from the blaze that tore through the concrete block home early on Friday, Jan. 30.
Leach said the pathologist said the couple had no obvious wounds that would lead investigators to believe they died from foul play.
The couple is believed to be the residents of the house, including a longtime ranch worker.
However, Leach said police and the coroner’s office have struggled to confirm their identities because of the condition of their bodies. Family members of the couple who lived there have been contacted.
The bodies were discovered in a home at 112726 N. Harrington Road in a rural area near West Richland after firefighters with Benton County Fire District 4 were called about the house fire at 6:30 a.m. last Friday.
When firefighters could finally get inside, they found one person dead in the kitchen and the other in the dining area.
West Richland police are in charge of the investigation and have released no details about the fire.
The home was built in 1970 and is on agricultural property owned by the estate of the late Frank Tiegs, according to property records.