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Pocono News Section
Investigators Say Victim Set Fire That Took Her Life
Investigators Say Victim Set Fire That Took Her Life - Friday, April 11, 2008 at 2:43PM EST
Reported by: Jill Konopka
Friday, Apr 11, 2008 @02:43pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- A tragic fire in Wilkes-Barre takes the life of an elderly woman and now authorities say the fire was set by the victim.
The answers to many questions about this fatal fire on Kado Street in Wilkes-Barre can be traced back to neighbor Marie Olinits. She lives next door to the 78-year-old victim Eleanor Fassett and found a bag stuck in her front door. Olinits said, "I thought it was a gift for me and I didn't know what it was, so I took it out and put it on the kitchen table and went back and looked and it was a wallet and it was Eleanor Fassett's."
Detectives confiscated that plastic bag. Luzerne County Coroner John Corcoran says Fassett put it there before she set the fire that took her life. It contained contact numbers, a bible and a lengthy letter asking Olinitis to give everything to police. "She just said ‘here's my sister’s telephone numbers, call them. Call them.’ I didn't do anything. I said I better hand it over," Olinits added.
By that time, Wilkes-Barre firefighters had already put the fire out after pulling the victim from her burning home. Olinits said, "I didn't want to read anymore. I handed it over and gave it to the fire department and they gave it to who they wanted to."
Fassett's’ other next door neighbor tried unsuccessfully to get inside and get the woman to safety. Matthew Steinerman is only 15-years-old. “I came down opened the front door and there was black smoke and about 10 feet of black flames," he said.
The coroner says Fassett died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Neighbors say she had recently been depressed. Investigators say the victim’s home received heavy smoke and fire damage to the first floor.
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