Fatal Fire

I was the only reporter to visit the scene of this fatal fire. It really struck me that someone had died here just the night before. There was still smoke and steam rising from the ashes and I saw charred furniture everywhere. It was gruesome. The rest of the local media covered this from the police report, but I went to the station and was lucky enough to get to talk to a few witnesses while they were waiting to be interviewed. It really helped make this the best coverage of this event.

By ALAN FOSTER
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A mixture of alcohol and teenagers left one teen dead and another charged with criminal homicide and arson at a home near the Somerset county community of Confluence.
Charles J. Burnsworth,19, died in the fire and charged in the death was Michael J. Mitchell, Jr. 18.

"There were four teens in the home that evening. There was drinking, and the fire started," Somerset County coroner Wilbur Miller said. Other sources said there may have been as many as eight teens in the house during the evening before the fire. Miller said there was a high level of carbon monoxide in Burnsworth's blood and he died from smoke inhalation. Based on the state police investigation and evidence at the scene he ruled the death a homicide.
The body was found in a hallway near the basement door. While the blood alcohol level of the deceased was not available, Miller speculated it too would be high. He refused to provide further details due to the ongoing nature of the investigation,
Sources close to the investigation said the fire was started when gasoline was lit on the living room floor.

The home was owned by Donald Rugg, who resides in South Carolina, and was known to be a haven for transients and partying teens. The state police had visited at least twice in the last year and this was the third fire at the home in the last seven years. This according to Confluence fire officials.

Neighbors said that while the death was unfortunate the house would not be missed. One neighbor characterized it as, "the closest think to a crack house we have around here."
The is the second fire-related incident to rock this sleepy, farming community. Last year in nearby Markleton a resident was convicted of killing his wife and disposing of her body by burning it on a backyard burn pile.