The death of an
elderly Ogden Dunes woman in a fire at her residence in April has been ruled
a homicide.
On the morning of
April 16, Wanda Maxine Wunder, 94, was found deceased upstairs in the
bedroom of her home at 24 Diana Road, after the fire which had badly damaged
the residence had been extinguished.
Cause of death, as
determined by an autopsy: smoke and soot inhalation.
The manner of
death, as Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris officially ruled after deadline
on Wednesday: homicide.
“After collecting
reports from all agencies involved in the investigation, it has been
determined that the death be ruled a homicide,” Harris said.
According to the
Ogden Dunes Volunteer FD, the fire was first observed by a neighbor who saw
flames and advised the dispatcher that there was possibly someone inside the
residence. “A son of Ms. Wunder was in the residence during the fire but
escaped any injuries,” Harris said on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, an Ogden
Dunes police officer first on the scene attempted to enter the home to look
for occupants but was met with heavy smoke. The officer was subsequently
treated for smoke inhalation at Porter Regional Hospital.
Wunder was located
in her bedroom after the fire was extinguished. She was pronounced dead at
the scene.
Ogden Dunes Town
Marshal Jim Reeder declined this morning to comment on his investigation of
the fire, except to say that he’s waiting for the Prosecuting Attorney’s
Office to complete its review of his findings.