Homicide suspected in West Slope fire deaths
By Sharon Bernstein, Reuters
Three bodies have been found in a burned West Slope vacation cabin owned by a family missing for 10 days, and the incident, initially thought to have been caused by wildfire, is being investigated as a homicide and arson, authorities said on Thursday.
The bodies have not been identified, but Adam Buchanan, who owns the cabin, was reported missing the same day the fire broke out, along with Molly McAfee and their 8-year-old son, Gavin, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department said.
Firefighters were initially called to fight what was believed to be a wildfire near the family’s cabin in Garden Valley on Sept. 13, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sergeant Todd Hammitt said on Thursday. They soon learned that the fire started at the residence, and realized it had been intentionally set, Hammitt said.