
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 21, 1992                   TAG: 9203210272
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A5   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: HILLSVILLE                                LENGTH: Short

SHERIFF: FATAL FIRE BEGAN BEFORE DEPUTY ARRIVED

Sheriff R.D. Carrico said Friday he has eyewitness confirmation that the house in which the body of a deputy was found had been on fire before the deputy entered it.

It was Carrico who found the body of Wade Jones, a 13-year veteran of the department, in the ashes of the house that burned March 6 in the Cana area of the county, near Jones' house.

Members of Jones' family reported him missing that weekend. A medical examiner later confirmed the body's identity and found that death was due to smoke inhalation.

Carrico said his office is still waiting for a toxicology report and also the results of an examination of the remains of the house to see whether arson might be involved.

But he said he now has proof that the fire had started while Jones was talking on the telephone.

It is possible, Carrico said, that Jones may have seen the fire after getting off the phone, entered the house to see if anyone else was inside and been overcome by the smoke.

- Southwest bureau

Keywords:
FATALITY

by CNB