Suspect Sought After Woman's Body Found In Burning Home

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The burned body of Chere Osmanhodzic, 34, was found after crews extinguished a fire in her home in the Valley Village area of Los Angeles, California Saturday evening, according to the Los Angeles Times. Detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department are searching for a man seen running form the home by her fiance.

Five companies of firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) responded to the 11500 block of West Riverside Drive to find heavy smoke showing from the rear of a one story home, according to Devin Gales, a spokesman for the LAFD.

It took 37 firefighters 11 minutes to fully knock down the flames in the 650 square foot home. The physical damage from the fire was confined to the room of origin where Osmanhodzic was discovered, according to Gales.

There were smoke alarms found in the residence but whether or not they were functioning has yet to be determined. According to Gales, there were no security bars or other obvious impairments to stop the occupant from being able to exit the home.

According to KABC-TV, her fiance told police he returned from an errand and confronted a man inside the home then chased him several blocks. He returned to find the home engulfed in flames.

The suspect is described as a Latino man in his 20's about 5 feet 8 inches tall with a stocky build. He was wearing black shorts and a blue shirt with a black baseball cap turned backwards, according to KTTV-TV.  

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but will come from a joint investigation by the LAFD and the Los Angeles Police Department.

The exact cause of the woman's death will be determined by an autopsy conducted by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.



Author:Barbara Brooks - Fire Department Network News