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SAN DIEGO
A body found in an abandoned City Heights home after a fire in February was identified Tuesday as a 38-year-old woman who had taken shelter in the home, officials said.
Deanne Sue Pursel‘s body was so badly burned that authorities were unable to identify her for months. Through DNA, the county Medical Examiner’s Office was able to identify her in late April, according to a newly released autopsy report.
The autopsy led investigators to conclude she died of thermal injuries. Her death was ruled an accident.
A companion arrested on suspicion of recklessly starting the Feb. 21 fire pleaded not guilty in San Diego Superior Court in March. In June, a San Diego Superior Court judge ruled that the 34-year-old man was not competent to stand trial, meaning he was unable to understand the court proceedings and to assist in his own defense.
SAN DIEGO
An arsonist set fires that burned a picnic bench, a pop-up tent and some equipment at the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery early Monday morning and police are investigating the blazes, officials said.
Two small fires were reported around 12:25 a.m. at the cemetery on 44th Street near C Street. There were no injuries.
“This was two small fires one was in a pop-up tent and picnic table and the other was some miscellaneous equipment next to a commercial building,” San Diego Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Mónica Muñoz said.
Metro Arson Strike Team investigators responded to the blaze and determine it was an arson and involved an outbuilding at the cemetery, said San Diego police Sgt. Rick Pechin. Investigators were checking if there was any video they could review.
SAN DIEGO
Fire investigators are looking into three fires over a 24-hour period involving vehicles parked at a towing lot in Logan Heights, two of which have been determined to be arson while the third is considered suspicious, an arson investigator said.
The latest fire, which involved an RV, was reported shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday at the Road One Towing lot on National Avenue near Interstate 5 and state Route 15, said police Sgt. Rick Pechin, who is assigned to the Metro Arson Strike Team.
The first fire Wednesday involved a vehicle, and a second fire set during the evening burned an RV and a boat that was nearby, Pechin said.