ASHTON – A 22-year-old man who called 911 to report a house fire later was found dead inside the home, the Lee County sheriff said in a news release.
David A. Reisinger called 911 about 3:45 p.m. Sunday to report the fire at 1765 Brooklyn Road, about 4 miles southeast of Ashton, a home he shared with his father, Frederick, 73. When fire crews arrived, the house was engulfed and Reisinger's father and Kemoc Scheu, 24, of Ashton, who was visiting, were outside.
A cat also died in the blaze, Sheriff John Simonton said.
After an autopsy performed Monday morning, Lee County Coroner Jesse Partington said David Reisinger's preliminary cause of death was asphyxia because of smoke inhalation.
A state fire marshal's office representative was on scene investigating Monday, Simonton said. The result of that investigation, and the origin and cause of the fire are unknown.
Simonton said it didn't appear to be anything criminal.