By ERIN BURT
erin@newsroom.byu.edu
A 20-year-old man was found dead in his Orem apartment after his kitchen caught fire on Saturday.
Police said the body was found by a neighbor who was aware of the fire. The neighbor thought the fire was small and the victim had put it out by himself. When she did not see the victim either Saturday or Sunday, the neighbor became concerned and checked the apartment, finding not only extensive fire damage, but the victim lying face down in the hallway.
Lt. Ned Jackson of the Orem Department of Public Safety said the victim had severe burns on his shoulders and face, but the autopsy results Monday night were inconclusive if he died from burns or smoke inhalation.
The cause of the fire appeared to be two burners on the stove which were left on high, catching a shelf above the stove on fire, Jackson said. The kitchen had substantial damage from the fire and smoke damage was found throughout the house.
Police are not certain, but it looked as if the victim tried to put the fire out with water. Lt. Doug Edwards said the victim probably then ran to the back bedroom and tried to open a window.
'He seems to have tried to let smoke out of the apartment. There was smoke residue on the bedroom window with a hand print dragged across the glass, but he was unsuccessful,' Edwards said.
The victim then made his way down the hallway where police believe he headed for the front door, but was overcome by either the smoke, his burn injuries or both, and collapsed on the floor where the neighbor later found him.
As of Monday night, the victim's family had not been notified. Police thought they had identified the body, but later found a wallet on the victim with ID that did not match their report.