Nov. 02--Authorities are investigating the death of an 80-year-old woman found Saturday afternoon in her Lockport Township home, which had been damaged by a recent fire.
Will County Sheriff's Deputy Chief Rick Ackerson said police and firefighters were called about 4 p.m. to the woman's home in the 13400 block of Redberry Circle by neighbors who were concerned because they hadn't seen her in three or four days. Her body was found in her bedroom, which showed signs of damage from a recent fire, Lockport Township Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Frank Blaskey said.
Authorities said they did not suspect foul play in the woman's death or the fire. The woman, whom authorities did not identify, lived alone in the Carillon subdivision, a retirement community.
Blaskey said it appeared the fire was contained to her bedroom and burned itself out. There was heavy sooting throughout the home and the windows had a smoky tint, he said. However, there was no smoke left in the house and there were no levels of carbon monoxide detected, Blaskey said.
Though it was unclear when the fire started, Blaskey said it appeared it was sometime before Saturday.
"It definitely was not the day we were called out there," he said.
Blaskey said there were no signs of exterior damage to the home. The first pane of a window in the bedroom was broken, but the exterior pane was not damaged, Blaskey said.
Alicia Fabbre is a freelance reporter.
