Autopsies done on Wednesday have confirmed that the three persons who died in the Cummings Lodge apartment complex fire last Saturday succumbed to smoke inhalation.
Government pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh made the pronouncement after examining the bodies of 14-year-old Dawhaul Ifill, his mother, 40-year-old Beverly Miller, and his 46-year-old stepfather Martin Lewis.
Firemen found the bodies of the family approximately an hour and a half after they were finally able to put out the flames. The fire was said to have started around 5.30pm on Saturday.
Twenty-eight persons who lived in six of the nine apartments in the building lost their homes in the fire. One of three apartments belonged to the now deceased Miller and her family while two were vacant.
Tenants have since claimed that the fire was started by a relative of their landlord. Persons have alleged that they saw flames coming from a vacant apartment at the top of the building mere minutes after the man had a disagreement with one of the tenants. He was said to have been seen going and coming from the apartment before the fire began.
Tenants told this newspaper that it was not the first time that they have ended up in an altercation with the suspect, who lives nearby. He was said to have at one time carried away a water pump used by the tenants living in the upper flat after an argument. The suspect was arrested on the night the fire occurred.
