Crews battle blazing Federal Way fire at site of December murder
Dec 30, 2019, 9:54 AM | Updated: 10:25 am
A fire at a Federal Way house that not long ago was a murder scene. (South King Fire)
(South King Fire)
Crews in Federal Way worked for the better part of Monday morning to quell a raging house fire, where an 85-year-old woman allegedly shot her two roommates earlier in December.
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South King Fire and Rescue arrived at the home in the 2000 block of Southwest 306th Lane to find heavy flames around 6 a.m., and were only able to reach the attic inside two hours later. “Extensive damage” prevented crews from entering the house earlier.
Crews were greeted with heavy flames upon arrival of this residential fire. Extensive damage is preventing crews from making entry. We will provide updates when we can. pic.twitter.com/WxRxxg09SQ
— South King Fire (@Southkingfire) December 30, 2019
On Dec. 19, 85-year-old Beverly Jenne shot her roommate Janet Oyuga multiple times, killing her. She also reportedly shot her other roommate, Angela Atieno in the back. Jenne had lived at the home for 40 years.
According to authorities, no one was inside the house at the time of Monday morning’s fire in Federal Way.
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“Sure seems fishy,” KIRO 7 TV reporter Deedee Sun Tweeted. “Hope to get some answers from investigators today.”
Around 10 a.m., crews were able to conduct an initial entry, but thanks to the vast amount of damage from the fire, they were “unable to effectively search the entire house.”
King County investigators are now in charge of the determining the cause of the fire.
The house had recently gone into foreclosure, although Jenne had been allowed to continue living in it by the new buyer while she searched for alternative housing arrangements. A handwritten note found inside her 1977 Chevrolet Malibu — and signed in her name — stated that “(the new buyer) drove me to this … I think she was getting ready to (e)vict me and I’m 85 and no place to go.”
Jenne’s bail was set at $1 million at the time she was arraigned. She currently faces first-degree murder charges.
KIRO 7 TV staff contributed to this report
