Charred remains of a body is found in a house on Antelope Street
In the early hours of this morning, a small house in the Antelope Street Extension area of Belize City was engulfed in flames. The Fire Department responded and extinguished the fire before it could spread to neighboring houses. Shortly after, they made the gruesome discovery of a body inside the home, burnt beyond recognition. The owner of the home is thirty-three year old Michael Reynolds, a driver for the Human Development Department in Belize City. Authorities are assuming that it is his body which was found in the home. Operations Manager of the Fire Department Benisford Matura told News Five that they are exploring several theories, but the cause of the fire is, at this time, unknown.
Benisford Matura, Operations Manager, Fire Department
“Upon extinguishing the fire we got information that the owner, Michael Reynolds, was supposedly still in the dwelling. Immediately we started a search of the area of the charred remains of the building and we found his charred body in the corridor in front of his bathroom and bedroom door…just in the corridor.”
Reporter
“From the preliminary investigation, have you all been able to ascertain where the fire started?”
Benisford Matura
Benisford Matura
“Yes. What exactly started the fire is still under investigation, but the area where the fire started is in the hallway of the living room. So you enter the house, the hallway and then you enter the bedroom…right in that area is where the fire started. For a fire like this we have two theories but we cannot say which one is the correct one. It could be that something went wrong and they burned the house to cover a crime or it’s just a mishap and he couldn’t make it out of his building while it was burning.”
Reporter
“What is the role of the Fire Department in an investigation like this? How do you all work along with the Police and at what point do you all step out?”
Benisford Matura
“Our main objective is to determine the cause of the fire and the Police will use the forensic evidence that they have to determine if it was a murder or just foul play in the sense that he just couldn’t make it out. But we’re working together to try and find out what actually went wrong.”
Reporter
Basically at this time you all can’t even ascertain that it is Michael Reynolds in that house I assume?
Benisford Matura
“No we cannot. We are just assuming but the Police will give us a forensic report to determine if it was him.”
Michael Reynolds lived alone. The government vehicle which he drove home was also badly damaged in the fire. Police and fire Department personnel continue their investigations.
