Two bodies found after Lakewood fire
Investigators Wednesday worked the site where two bodies were found after a house fire.
LAKEWOOD – Two bodies were found inside an apartment in the wake of a house fire and a disturbance that rattled a neighborhood in the Two Creeks area late Tuesday night.
Investigators from West Metro Fire District, Lakewood Police Department and the Jeffco Coroner’s Office remained on the scene Wednesday afternoon, but few details of the investigation were available, including the identities and gender of the two victims.
But neighbors believe the bodies are those of a woman about 50 years old who rented the residence at 6770 W. 14th Ave. and a male friend. The neighbors also said a loud argument between the victims erupted shortly before the fire was reported.
David Cross, who lives just a few houses away from the fire scene, said he found the body of the woman after responding to a plea for help.
Shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday, Cross found a distraught woman at his door.
“She said her friend was getting beat up real bad, so I got in my car and drove around there,” Cross said.
Cross said he saw the smoke coming from the home and opened the door.
“Smoke was coming out so I yelled, then I looked down and saw the body. She was dead and she was laying right there in the doorway,” Cross said. “I don’t where the guy was, I didn’t go inside after that.”
An LPD spokesman stopped short of labeling the deaths as a crime.
“We won’t know until the coroner starts to assess whether or not we’ve got foul play or anything like that,” said LPD Sgt. Mark Reeves.
West Metro dispatchers received the first report of the fire at 9:04 p.m. and firefighters were on the scene within two minutes.
“We got there very quickly. The crew saw the flames and smoke as they pulled up. They made their initial entry into the home and found the first victim,” said Cindy Matthews, West Metro spokeswoman.
As fire fighters moved further inside to attack the fire, they found the second victim.
“They got the fire put out and we made the decision at that point, because we had two victims, to do as little overhaul as possible so that we could preserve the scene for Lakewood police,” said Cindy Matthews, West Metro spokeswoman.
“We are working the investigation with them. Our fire investigators will determine the cause and origin of the fire and then Lakewood police will work with the cause of death and anything else that may have contributed to the situation.”
The incident is the second time in less than a month West Metro fire fighters have found bodies in the wake of a house fire.
On July 28, the body of Bonnie Gilbert Bergen was found beneath collapsed debris in a home she rented in northwest Lakewood.
Investigators later arrested Britt Allen Cox, 40, on suspicion of 1st degree murder in connection with Bergin’s death.
The cause of Bergin’s death is considered a key to the investigation and has not been released by police.
