CARROLL COUNTY — Both victims found dead after a house fire in rural Carroll County on Monday died from gunshot wounds, the sheriff said Friday.
Carroll County Sheriff Tobe Leazenby said Coroner Kristin Enoch was able to identify the male victim as John D. MaCurdy, 73, of rural Bringhurst. Bringhurst died of a gunshot wound, Leazenby said. Earlier this week, the female victim was identified as Anna Downham, 35, of Bringhurst. She also died of a gunshot wound, the sheriff said.
Passersby called 911 and reported the fire Monday morning at a house in the 2700 block of South State Road 29. The house is located approximately one mile north of Burlington.
Some of the passersby also stopped to see if anyone was still in the house and found Downham unconscious in the house prior to the arrival of firefighters. She was pronounced dead at the scene. After firefighters were able to take control of the fire, they found MaCurdy dead inside the remnants of the house.
On Friday, Leazenby said the house belonged to MaCurdy and that investigators had identified a suspect vehicle and learned from Miami County Sheriff's Office deputies that they had located a similar vehicle in a remote area of Miami County.
The Miami County deputies were investigating an apparent suicide connected to the vehicle that happened the same day as the fire in Carroll County, Leazenby said.
As investigators from the two counties met to discuss the cases, they were able to link the deceased man in Miami County with MaCurdy and Downham. Using technological information and other information gained in the investigation, police were able to link the deceased man in Miami County with being at the MaCurdy property early Monday morning.
Leazenby said the suspect has been identified as Daniel H. Doe, 58, of Rice Lake, Wisc. Leazenby said investigators believe Doe caused the deaths of MaCurdy and Downham.
"As was indicated earlier in the week, we do not feel there is an ongoing threat to our community based on the latest information garnered in the investigation," Leazenby said. "This was a tragic event in our community and ask for thoughts and prayers for the families involved during this time. I commend not only our investigators but also the first responders and numerous investigators who came alongside us to gain finality to the case."
Police are continuing the investigation to develop a motive in the case.
