Thursday, January 22, 2015

4 BODIES FOUND IN REMAINS OF ANNAPOLIS MANSION FIRE. 2 ARE STILL MISSING. FIRE REDUCES MANSION TO RUBBLE MONDAY; FAMILY IDENTIFIES STILL-MISSING CHILDREN



4 BODIES FOUND IN REMAINS OF ANNAPOLIS MANSION FIRE. 2 ARE STILL MISSING. FIRE REDUCES MANSION TO RUBBLE MONDAY; FAMILY IDENTIFIES STILL-MISSING CHILDREN










January 22, 2015




ANNAPOLIS, Md. —Crews have found the bodies of four individuals from the Annapolis mansion fire, Anne Arundel County fire officials said.



Investigators started excavating the ruins Wednesday of an Annapolis-area mansion that burned to the ground in search of a man, a woman and their four grandchildren who have been missing since the blaze, and who relatives said were likely inside when the building caught fire.



Anne Arundel County Fire Capt. Russ Davies said crews were able to secure the structure Wednesday to make it safe for investigators to enter. Search teams with cadaver K-9s located the bodies of two individuals on Wednesday, and two more bodies were found Thursday, but fire officials could not say whether the bodies were those of the adults or the children. Two others remain unaccounted for.



Davies said the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner took the bodies to Baltimore for an autopsy and identification.



The mansion is owned by Sandra and Don Pyle, who is an executive with a technology company.  Neither have been seen since the fire.



The missing children were identified Thursday by a family representative as Alexis Boone, 8; Kaitlyn Boone, 7; Charlotte Boone, 8; and Wesley Boone, 6. The Boone children are the grandchildren of Sandra Pyle and the step-grandchildren of Don Pyle, the family representative said.



Fire officials and federal investigators were at the scene of the blaze on Tuesday extinguishing residual hot spots from the fire, which reduced the 16,000-square-foot mansion to rubble early Monday. Officials said Tuesday that once inside, crews would begin stabilizing the wreckage and pumping out the basement, which was flooded by water firefighters sprayed on the building.



An expert said that due to the intensity of the fire, it will likely take weeks to positively identify suspected remains found in the debris.  The search for the missing people will take time, too.



"They're going through a meticulous process. There are a lot of heavy materials from the house. As has been described previously, this isn't built like a typical residential house. This is built more like a commercial structure," Davies said. "So, it's a time-consuming process that they're going through right now."



Aerial video of the fire scene shows a big operation as delicate as it large. Guided by a specially-trained dog, the priority is to find remains of victims. The focus is the basement of the house, to which three floors collapsed. Debris must be sifted in small amounts at a time.



Still recognizable are two cars that had been left in the garage. Also in the basement, what appears to be a rack of electronic components. Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives focused there Wednesday, removing the cover of one piece of equipment. The house was described by neighbors as a smart house. Investigators will have to hope something can be retrieved from a hard drive or surveillance equipment that can help answer how the fire started and why it spread so fast.



As is protocol, investigators are treating the house as a crime scene until they know more details about how the fire started. Crews remained at the scene overnight for security purposes.








Boone, Pyle families release statement



The Boone and Pyle families have asked for privacy as a memorial grows outside the former home.



"On behalf of the Boone and Pyle families, we wish to express our gratitude and appreciation for the love and support being shared with us during this tragic event.  We are blessed that so many family, friends and neighbors have come together for us in our time of need," a statement from the family representative said.



While investigators have not yet identified any of the family members as being deceased, the family's statements eludes to the fact that they believe that might be the case.



"Our love for our family is boundless. Our loss demands time and quiet reflection to process these feelings.  We ask that you respect our need for privacy," the statement read. "Life is fragile.  Make time today to embrace your loved ones."



The statement also thanked the investigators involved in the search for the missing family, saying, "We want our community to know how proud we are of all who have helped us."