Police seek help identifying possible witness to fatal Jeannette fire
State police are seeking help identifying a man who may have witnessed a fatal fire in Jeannette last week.
The man is seen on surveillance footage released Thursday by investigators walking in an alley near South Seventh Street moments before the fire at six row houses was reported, according to Trooper Stephen Limani.
"He appears to be at this location just a couple minutes before it catches on fire so we believe he can be a witness to how this fire started," Limani said.
Investigators have not determined a cause of the April 9 blaze or where it started. Shirley Kocherhans, 87, was found dead inside her apartment at 2 p.m. by firefighters. Her granddaughter escaped the burning building by dropping from a second-story window. Limani said she remains hospitalized. Eleven other people were left homeless.
The rental units had no working smoke detectors and the property owner has been cited for violations of city ordinance that require biennial inspections, occupancy permits and registration of vacant properties.
The row houses were last inspected in 2013, according to city records.
The surveillance video shows the man walking around in the alley, towards and away from South Seventh Street. During his last appearance before firefighters arrive, he is seen looking at the back porch of the wood frame building and walking away. He appeared to be wearing jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt and was carrying a plastic bag.
Firefighters responding at 2 p.m. were met with an inferno on the back porch.
"We did take some pieces of the building and we're trying to determine if there was anything that accelerated the fire," Limani said.
Tests have not been completed, he said.
Anyone who recognizes the man is asked to call state police at 724-832-3288.
Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-837-5374, rsignorini@tribweb.com or via Twitter @byrenatta.
