Police say the woman whosebadly burned body was pulled from a Bowie home was shot before the fire began, a source close to the investigation told The Examiner.
The cause of the fire that swept through the second floor of the 15315 Jenkins Ridge Road home remains under investigation. An official police spokesman would only say that an autopsy revealed the victim was murdered.
But a police source close to the investigation who asked not to be identified because the investigation is still unfolding said the woman had been shot before the fire ripped through the home.
A blaze erupted in the garage a little before 5 a.m. on Tuesday. It spread quickly, devouring the second floor in a blink, and leaving the first floor mostly intact. Firefighters attempted to fight the flames from inside, but were pushed back and couldn’t get back in until the fire was out about an hour later.
When they made their way through the smoldering rubble, they found a body in the second-floor master bedroom, which sits directly above the garage.
Neighbors say the victim was Vilma Butler, who was home alone while one of her children was on vacation. Her other children had already moved out. Officials have not yet confirmed the name of the victim and say it could be a few days before the identity has been verified.
Fire investigators say the sprinkler system had been shut off, although they’re still unsure why.
Neighbors also told The Examiner that they heard two pops that sounded as though they might have been gunshots.
Fire department spokesman Mark Brady said investigators had received similar reports from neighbors about the pops.
On the home’s front lawn stood a large public auction sign. Neighbors said Butler had been trying to sell the home for six months, but couldn’t find a buyer.
Property and court records show that the house was not in foreclosure and that Butler took out a $225,000 loan against the property last year.
Fire officials say the damage to the home is estimated at $300,000 and the starting bid for the home is $389,000 on www.beltwayauctions.com.
