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SAWHORSE
Body found in boarded-up home after fire
Steve Lieberman, slieberm@lohud.com 6:28 p.m.
SPRING VALLEY – Firefighters battling a suspicious fire in a vacant house found a man's decomposing body untouched by flames in a first-floor room early Wednesday, authorities said.
How long the body had been inside 59 Twin Ave. remains under investigation.
"There was a skull on the floor sticking out of a blanket," Spring Valley Fire Inspector Frank Youngman said. "We first thought it was like a Halloween prank."
After pulling back the blanket, firefighters found more skeletal remains, Youngman said. The firefighters then left the house and police and fire investigators took over.
An anthropologist will be called in to try to identify the man, Spring Valley police Lt. Jack Bosworth said.
Authorities said they found evidence that squatters had been living in the house.
Spring Valley acting Building Inspector Manny Carmona said he told the owner's agent that the house must be demolished. He said the agent agreed to file for a demolition permit.
The fire apparently started in the rear of the house before being reported at 1:17 a.m., Youngman said. Flames were shooting out of the house when an estimated 30 volunteers from Spring Valley and Hillcrest fire departments arrived, he said.
The body was found in the front of the house.
Youngman said the house had been boarded up for at least five years, possibly 10. The house is at the corner of Franka Place, not far from Ramapo Commons, a 132-condominium townhouse development on Elm Street.
Samuel Muller of Monsey is listed as the owner, Youngman said. He said police and village inspectors had not been able to speak with Muller directly.
The fire is considered suspicious since the building had no power and was boarded up, Spring Valley Fire Chief Ken Sohlman said.
The Rockland Sheriff's Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Spring Valley police detectives are investigating the fire and body.
Carmona said the owner had wanted to knock down the building several years ago, but he suspects the economic hard times canceled those plans.
Steve Lieberman, slieberm@lohud.com 6:28 p.m.
SPRING VALLEY – Firefighters battling a suspicious fire in a vacant house found a man's decomposing body untouched by flames in a first-floor room early Wednesday, authorities said.
How long the body had been inside 59 Twin Ave. remains under investigation.
"There was a skull on the floor sticking out of a blanket," Spring Valley Fire Inspector Frank Youngman said. "We first thought it was like a Halloween prank."
After pulling back the blanket, firefighters found more skeletal remains, Youngman said. The firefighters then left the house and police and fire investigators took over.
An anthropologist will be called in to try to identify the man, Spring Valley police Lt. Jack Bosworth said.
Authorities said they found evidence that squatters had been living in the house.
Spring Valley acting Building Inspector Manny Carmona said he told the owner's agent that the house must be demolished. He said the agent agreed to file for a demolition permit.
The fire apparently started in the rear of the house before being reported at 1:17 a.m., Youngman said. Flames were shooting out of the house when an estimated 30 volunteers from Spring Valley and Hillcrest fire departments arrived, he said.
The body was found in the front of the house.
Youngman said the house had been boarded up for at least five years, possibly 10. The house is at the corner of Franka Place, not far from Ramapo Commons, a 132-condominium townhouse development on Elm Street.
Samuel Muller of Monsey is listed as the owner, Youngman said. He said police and village inspectors had not been able to speak with Muller directly.
The fire is considered suspicious since the building had no power and was boarded up, Spring Valley Fire Chief Ken Sohlman said.
The Rockland Sheriff's Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Spring Valley police detectives are investigating the fire and body.
Carmona said the owner had wanted to knock down the building several years ago, but he suspects the economic hard times canceled those plans.
