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House Fire Investigated as Homicide

35 views · Published 13 January 2015 · 2:06 · Indexed 21 September 2026

Channel: NBC 15 · 2015 · News & Politics

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FOLEY, Ala.  (WPMI) Foley Police have now ruled a fatal fire at a home on Monteith Circle a homicide investigation.

Firefighters responded to the call from neighbors around 9:30 Sunday night. It took five minutes for firefighters to respond and by the time they got here, the home was gone.

Firefighters say it was the first clue that something wasn't right. Once the flames were out investigators knew they were dealing with something else.

"We started uncovering evidence that looked like foul play. Today that was corroborated with an autopsy that we do have a homicide,"  said David Wilson, Foley's Police Chief.

A badly burned body along with suspicious evidence gave police and fire reason to step up the investigation.

"My experience, this was a rapidly developing fire in a modernly constructed home. Modern constructed homes tend to slow fires to a certain point but when the fire develops rapidly and breaches that point we get a fully involved fire," said Joseph Darby, Foley's Fire Chief.    

"That's pretty scary this is a quiet neighborhood. I don't know of anything bad that's ever gone on here," said neighbor Barbara Sharp.

Without official word from the coroner police can only confirm that the home belongs to Thomas Burdette.

"And we pulled a body out of there but we don't have as positive ID that that body is Mr. Burdette's,"  said Wilson.

"It's tragic. I couldn't even believe it happened. I was not aware there was a fire going on or sirens or anything. Oh and for this to happened at this time of year," said Sharp.

Police will not confirm the origin of the fire or the cause of death. Both are key to the investigation.

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