Child's Death Ruled A Homicide After Southwest Baltimore Fire
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The death of a young girl who died in a row home fire in Baltimore's Beechfield neighborhood Friday is being investigated as a homicide, police confirmed.
The Baltimore Fire Department responded around 6 p.m. to 4722 Vancouver Road for reports of a fire. Inside the row home, a child between 3 and 4-years-old was found dead, an agency spokesperson said.
"It's a baby's life just taken away. Innocent baby. I'm truly, truly heartbroken," resident Joann Ballard said.
The Medical Examiner determined the manner of death was homicide but did not reveal the cause.
The Baltimore union chapter of the International Association of Firefighters said crews extinguished a mattress fire in the two-story home.
Arson investigators are now combing over evidence to determine how the fire was started.
On Monday, detectives returned to the scene of the crime. WJZ reporter Cristina Mendez saw the pair selectively knocking on doors of homes with security cameras to speak with neighbors.
According to three different residents in the community, the victim's family was utilizing a moving truck in the days leading up to the deadly fire.
"She was a single mom with two kids, but I thought she had moved so I don't know," Tracy Howard said. "She had just stopped working out at the airport and she was looking for another job."
Children's toys were placed at the curb and a moving box was found leaning against the house but the moving truck no longer appeared to be in the neighborhood as described by neighbors.
Police have not confirmed whether there is a suspect in this case or if anyone has been arrested.