Authorities won’t name victim in Springhill fire
State police are investigating the death of man whose body was found in a house in Springhill Township destroyed by fire early Thursday. The house was the scene of a shooting June 8.
WAYNESBURG – Authorities will not release the name of the person whose body was discovered in the ruins of a burned Springhill Township home Thursday until the identity has been confirmed.
The body was discovered by firefighters who were called at 3:20 a.m. Thursday to extinguish the fire at 498 Morford Road.
The house, a mobile home with an addition, was destroyed and the body was badly burned, police said.
An autopsy was conducted Friday to determine the cause of death and to help identify the victim.
Greene County Coroner Gregory Rohanna said it appears the person died of smoke inhalation.
However, he said, he is awaiting the results of toxicological studies to make a final determination.
Rohanna said he also would wait to release the name of the victim. He said he believes he knows the person’s identity, but because of the condition of the body he wished to confirm that through other means.
State police and the state police fire marshal are investigating the fire. State police Sgt. Steven Dowling declined to comment on the investigation Friday.
He, too, said police are waiting for confirmation on the person’s identity.
“Once we confirm the identity of the person 100 percent,” Dowlin said, “we’ll be able to release that information.”
A neighbor said Thursday the house was occupied by David M. Riley and Riley’s vehicles were still at the residence Thursday morning.
The house had been the scene of a shooting June 8, when Riley, then 53, shot Jimmy W. Spencer, 53, of New Freeport after Spencer broke into the house and threatened Riley with a metal pry bar.
Spencer pleaded guilty in Greene County Court in December to aggravated assault and other charges and was sentenced to 2 to 10 years in prison.
Police considered Riley’s use of force legal under the state’s Castle Doctrine law that allows homeowners to protect themselves from intruders.
Police said there had been bad blood between Riley and Spencer after Riley implicated Spencer’s son, Samuel Spencer, in a triple homicide in Littleton, W.Va., in January 2014.
Samuel Spencer, who entered an “Alford plea” to homicide charges in Wetzel County, W.Va., in February 2015, was sentenced to 40 years in prison.