Placerville fire deaths ruled murder-suicide
By Cathy Locke, Sacramento Bee
Two women whose bodies were found following a fire in their Placerville-area home in March died as a result of a murder-suicide, according to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff’s officials said investigators determined that homeowner Crystal Ward, 58, shot Carolyn Hague, 62, in the head, then set the house on fire using flammable liquids, before turning the weapon on herself.
Sheriff’s investigators were called to 1601 Rose Lane for a death investigation March 7. Firefighters had responded about 5:45am to find a home engulfed in flames. As firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze, others rushed inside to search for occupants believed to be trapped in the house.