Belleville police, coroner find body at house after being called to report of structure fire
Belleville police and the St. Clair County Coroner’s Office were dispatched to the 300 block of River Laurel Drive on Thursday afternoon after receiving a report of a structure fire. Once there, they located a body in the house.
Capt. Mark Heffernan with the Belleville Police Department confirmed the agency was conducting a death investigation at the house. Later, the police department said the dead person was the sole occupant of the house, a 36-year-old man.
The St. Clair County Coroner’s Office confirmed there was a death, and that an autopsy will be conducted Friday. On Thursday afternoon, they said they could not release the identity until next of kin was notified.
The house had a “For Sale” sign outside.
There was a large police presence near the home and an engine from the Belleville Fire Department. Crime scene tape was around the home.
According to the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency, emergency workers first were called to a report of a fire in an occupied building. The call came in about 2 p.m.
It earlier was reported the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis was activated, but that was in error.
This story was originally published March 28, 2019 at 2:40 PM.
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