New Jersey’s police authorities have opened a criminal investigation into a devastating fire in the House – which the neighbors called a blast – on Sunday that left two people killed and a house left a little more than one pile of debris in the municipality of Washington.
Prosecutors from the municipality of Gloucester told NBC10 Neil Fischer that Gloucester’s County Firefighter Marshal office is working with police authorities to determine how deadly fire may have started because the incident is now being considered a criminal investigation.
Authorities also said the County coroner’s office is still working and has not yet prepared an autopsy report on the two individuals – a man and a woman – who were taken from the wreckage of the house.
The identities of the two individuals found on the property have not yet been revealed by the police.
But, neighbors and a woman with whom he dated earlier identified the man who lived at home as Daniel Steele.
“It’s an emotional roller coaster. I hurt all her family. I hurt her family. I hurt for myself, because Dan was one of the best people I’ve ever met,” Nicole Ruiz, Steele’s ex-girlfriend, told NBC10 Martinez-Valle.
Ruiz said that before Sunday fire, Steele left her dog, Billy, in her house and along with some dog food.