SYCAMORE – On Monday morning, DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott wouldn’t rule out foul play in a fatal farm fire early Sunday morning in rural Malta.
“I’m not at liberty at this point to say one way or the other,” Scott said. “We’re looking into extenuating circumstances.”
Malta firefighters responded about 1:40 a.m. Sunday to 3355 Gurler Road, where they found the bodies of William M. Kreda, 74, and his wife, Marjory R. Kreda, 75, in their house, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.
The release said when firefighters arrived, the barn was fully engulfed, and the house was on fire, as well. The report was made by a motorist on Interstate 88 who saw significant flames from south of the tollway, the release says.
DeKalb County Coroner Dennis Miller said autopsies on the Kredas would get started just after 10 a.m. Monday.
According to Karl Froehlich, fire chief with the Malta Fire Protection District, no firefighters were hurt, and it took about half an hour to get the fire under control. The DeKalb, Sycamore, Waterman, Shabbona, Kirkland, Lee, Creston, Steward and Rochelle fire departments assisted.
Froehlich said about 8 a.m. Sunday morning that the state fire marshal and DeKalb County Sheriff's Office were investigating at the scene. Aside from sheriff’s tape on the gate blocking a long gravel driveway, there was no visible evidence of police activity at the site Monday morning.