South Strabane woman found dead after fire in her home
A South Strabane Township woman was found dead Tuesday after a fire in her apartment.
The cause and manner of death of Sandra Lee Tinsley, 73, were not immediately known following the fire at 1025 Locust Ave., the Washington County coroner’s office said Tuesday.
A state police fire marshal was called to investigate the cause of the blaze, the coroner’s office said. Tinsley was pronounced dead at 2:44 a.m.
She was last seen about 8 p.m. Monday when she returned to her apartment after a neighbor took her to Washington, South Strabane fire Chief Scott Reese said.
“Something went wrong from there on out,” he said, adding the death did not appear to have been suspicious.
Reese said the fire was traced to unattended cooking on the kitchen stove. Tinsley’s body was found nearby on the floor, beside a refrigerator, Reese said.
He said the fire was discovered about 2 a.m. when Tinsley’s grandson who lived with her came home.
Tinsley’s cat also was found dead, the fire chief said.
The fire was contained to the kitchen cabinets and a microwave oven, but the entire apartment sustained smoke damage.
Tinsley had health problems, Reese said.
“There are a lot of unanswered questions until the coroner finishes his investigation,” he said.