MAGNOLIA- The victim of a Saturday morning house fire in the Forest West subdivision has been positively identified as 23-yr-old Dusty Wayne Hutcherson. In a Monday press release the MCFMO said investigators determined the fire was intentionally set.
Hutcherson’s mother lived in the home in 7200 block of Lazy Summer Court near Cottonwood Bend, and Hutcherson recently began staying with her, according to the press release.
The Magnolia Fire Department responded to the residence around 6:30 a.m., after a family member arrived home and discovered the fire.Upon arrival, MFD saw intense smoke and called for a “box” which normally includes four engines, a ladder truck and a battalion chief.
Inside they found they found a smoldering fire, which they quickly extinguished. They also found Hutcherson, who was already deceased, along with the family dog.
No one else was home when the fire began.
The MCFMO responded to the scene, along with Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies. The MCFMO stated in a Monday press release that the fire was “incendiary in nature,” and they are now trying to determine “who set the fire and why.”
Outside of the house, the only visible evidence of the deadly fire on Saturday was the crime scene tape. Assistant Montgomery County Fire Marshall Scott Burlin said the fire started in a living area.
Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace conducted an inquest at the scene and ordered the deceased transported to the Southeast Texas Forensic Center for an autopsy, which allowed for positive identification.
The MCFMO stated that the autopsy revealed Hutcherson “suffered smoke inhalation due to the heavy smoke present in the home during the fire.”
The investigation is continuing.
