A late night house fire in Lewistown that killed a 44-year-old woman is now being investigated as a homicide, and police have detained a local man they say was at the home shortly before it went up in flames. The Mifflin County Coroner identified the victim as Brandy Phillippe, and firefighters reported that several people were trapped inside the burning Bratton Avenue residence as crews fought to get them out. Investigators say they expect to file charges in connection with the blaze.
State police say fire was no accident
According to Local21news, the Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal determined the blaze was intentionally set. The Mifflin County Coroner's Office said Phillippe's death is being treated as a homicide as the investigation continues.
Dispatch records cited by the outlet show crews were called to the 200 block of Bratton Avenue shortly after midnight. When firefighters arrived, both floors of the home were heavily involved in flames. The house was occupied by multiple residents, and first responders remained on scene for hours to fully knock down hot spots and secure the structure.
Person of interest found smelling of smoke, police say
Lewistown police identified 40-year-old Robert Shane Zimmerman as a person of interest and later tracked him to a boarding home on East Third Street, where officers said he reeked of ash and smoke, Fox San Antonio reports.
Officers told the outlet Zimmerman claimed he had just ingested fentanyl, so he was taken to a hospital for treatment. After he was medically cleared and brought in for questioning, police say he made several incriminating statements related to the fire. Zimmerman was detained on an outstanding warrant, and investigators said charges tied to the blaze were expected to follow.
Witnesses describe a rejected advance and a confession
Multiple witnesses told police Zimmerman had been at the Bratton Avenue home earlier in the night to profess his feelings to a woman who lives there and became upset when she rejected him, according to Local21news. Those witnesses said Zimmerman later admitted to starting fires on the first floor of the residence.
Investigators said surveillance imagery appeared to back up the witness accounts. They also reported that Zimmerman showed a strong emotional reaction when told someone had died in the fire. In a public update, the local fire company asked residents to keep everyone affected in their thoughts as the community grapples with the deadly blaze.
Two seriously hurt as they tried to escape, pets killed
Officials said two other occupants of the home suffered serious injuries while trying to escape the flames. One man jumped from a second floor window, suffering significant facial injuries, and was flown to a burn trauma center. Another woman fell while fleeing the fire and suffered smoke inhalation, and she was flown to a trauma center for further treatment, Fox San Antonio reports.
Responders said a dog and a cat were also killed in the fire, and crews remained on scene for several hours after the initial knockdown.
Investigators await autopsy as charges loom
The Mifflin County Coroner has scheduled an autopsy for Phillippe as part of the homicide investigation, and the Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal is continuing to comb through the charred home for evidence.
Lewistown police have asked anyone with video or information related to the Bratton Avenue fire to contact the department. Investigators say they are preparing charging paperwork while they wait for the coroner's findings to help fill in the final details of what led up to the deadly blaze.
