Ohio firefighter’s death a homicide – House fire determined to be arson
The Hamilton house fire that killed firefighter Patrick Wolterman was ruled an arson, officials announced Monday. Because of that, the firefighter’s death is being investigated as a homicide.
The fire was reported at about 1 a.m. Dec. 28 at the home of Lester and Bertha Parker on Pater Avenue. Police officials said they could not discuss the details that led to the arson classification.
Authorities are offering a $10,000 reward to anyone with information that could lead to a suspect.
Cameron Knight, Cincinnati.com:
Wolterman, 28, fell through the floor of the two-story home and into the basement of the home in the 1300 block of Pater Avenue.
Nearly 20 firefighters from multiple departments had responded to the fire at 1:12 a.m. Officials initially thought Lester and Bertha Parker who own the home were on the second floor.
At 1:20 a.m., firefighters issued the “mayday” alert. They performed life-saving measures on Wolterman while en route to Fort Hamilton Hospital but Wolterman died at the hospital.
