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Fire Marshal Seeks Information In Chillicothe Arson
< < Back to fire-marshal-seeks-information-chillicothe-arsonOhio State Fire Marshal's investigators are now calling an October Chillicothe house fire an arson.
Ross County sheriff's officers discovered the body of 89-year-old Harry Smith after the blaze destroyed the home on State Route 772.
Witnesses told officers smoke alarms were going off in the home at the time of the fire.
The county coroner determined Smith died from blunt force trauma, not from the fire and the case was ruled a homicide.
State Fire Marshal Larry Flowers says there were four separate origins to the fire, leading investigators to believe the fires were set to cover up Smith's death.
A $5,000 Blue Ribbon Arson Reward is being offered to anyone with information leading to the identification of the person who set the fire.
Anyone with information on the homicide is asked to call the Ross County Sheriff's Office at 740-773-8477.