Gunshot Confirmed After Deadly Fenton Township House Fire

For many people in the Fenton area, the idea that something like this could happen in a quiet Fenton Township neighborhood is difficult to process. What first appeared to be a tragic house fire is now revealing a much more complicated and heartbreaking situation.

Gunshot Wound Confirmed After Fenton Township House Fire

Investigators now say the man found dead inside the burned home had suffered a gunshot wound to the head. Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson confirmed that 66-year-old Raymond Drzewiecki was discovered near a gun cabinet inside the home on Ponemah Drive after firefighters had already knocked down most of the flames.

His wife, 64-year-old Beverly Drzewiecki, was also found dead inside the home, located in a bathroom. Investigators say she did not appear to have a gunshot wound, and thehouse fire exact cause of her death is still being determined.

Sheriff Says Community is Not In Danger

ABC 12 reports that both victims were badly burned in the fire, making the investigation significantly more difficult. Sheriff Swanson says investigators believe the situation may have been connected to a mental health crisis. He also emphasized that authorities do not believe the public is in danger.

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Investigators were carefully working through the burned remains of the home, searching for clues about how the fire began. A K-9 trained to detect accelerants such as gasoline did not find anything suspicious. However, another fire investigation dog indicated a corner of the home as a possible ignition point.

Police also found several firearms in the area where investigators believe the fire may have started, including one that may have been involved in the incident.

Prior Welfare Checks At Fenton Township Home

Authorities say deputies had responded to the home twice in the past month for welfare checks. Beverly Drzewiecki had also contacted multiple police agencies with concerns about possible surveillance.

Investigators are continuing to piece together exactly what happened inside the home before the fire began. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers.