A fire in a University Heights house on Jan. 18 that left two dead has been determined to be arson and police are now investigating the case as a double homicide.
According to Michael DeGeorge, spokesman for the Buffalo Police Department, Chisha Hawkins, 27, and Vernard Millner, 38, were both shot before their bodies were charred beyond recognition in the 6:45 a.m. fire on 39 Dartmouth Ave.
"The cause of the fire was ruled an arson," DeGeorge said. "The police believed that the two victims were dead before the fire was started."
The two were killed by a firearm, though police would not say how many times the victims were shot or in which part of the body.
It took police until last Friday to identify the victims due to the severity of the burns, according to DeGeorge.
Police could not supply a motive at this time, but the two reportedly had a 3-year-old son together. The boy was not home during the time of the fire.
Several neighbors reported not seeing any suspicious activity around the home in the weeks preceding the incident.
The case is currently under investigation, according to DeGeorge. Police would not comment about whether there were currently any suspects.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
