4-year-old, 2 adults found dead in Ohio house fire

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

A 4-year-old boy, his mother and a third person were found dead in a Christmas Eve fire at a vacant house in central Ohio, fire officials said Sunday.

The blaze was reported shortly before midnight Saturday in a house on Columbus’s west side, fire department officials said. When firefighters reached the scene, neighbors told them that people might be inside.

Firefighters entered the building and found three people in a room full of flames.

“We don’t believe they were renters,” Battalion Chief Michael Fowler said. “We think they were just squatting in the house.”

Fowler said it appeared their belongings were in only one first-floor room, where firefighters found the remnants of a mattress and box spring and other scorched items. The gas to the house had been turned off and the line was bolted shut; investigators believe the electricity also was turned off, but that was still under investigation Sunday, Fowler said.

The three victims were identified as 22-year-old Jerrica Francisco, her son Deshawn Francisco and 33-year-old Demetrius Chappell. Fowler did not know what Chappell’s relationship was to the mother and child.

The blaze began in a middle room, what could serve as a dining room, Fowler said. The cause of the fire was not clear. Damage was estimated at $40,000.

A message left Sunday for the owner of the property was not immediately returned.

Investigators remained on the scene Sunday afternoon.