Pittsburgh police are hoping the public can help unravel the mystery of a 1993 fire at a Bloomfield apartment building that left three people dead.
A man was seen walking from the building, in the 200 block of North Taylor Street, just before 4 a.m. Jan. 17, 1993. Minutes later, the building was engulfed in flames and thick black smoke.
One tenant, Christopher Stahlman, 23, jumped from a third-story window to escape the smoke and died from the fall.
Resident Florence Lyczko, 63, died of smoke inhalation in her third-floor apartment. Anita Emory, 31, also died of smoke inhalation and was found in her apartment on the second floor.
The fire was ruled an arson.
City police Detective J.R. Smith of the cold case squad said a witness saw a white man in his 20s, about 6 feet tall and weighing about 180 pounds, walking from the building before the fire erupted.
The man was described as having a medium build, ruddy complexion, rotten or missing teeth and long dishwater-blond hair. He was wearing a brown coat.
That witness helped police draw a composite sketch.
The six-alarm fire started in a basement apartment and destroyed the building, police said. A parking lot is all that remains. An accelerant was used to start the fire.
Police haven't determined a motive or if the man in the sketch had a grudge against any of the 30 tenants in the building.
"More than likely there is someone the suspect talked to about starting the fire, and we're hoping people will come forward with information," Smith said.
Additional Information:
Cold case files
Twice a month, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Pittsburgh police will publish details of unsolved homicides.Anyone with information may call the main city police number, 412-323-7800, or Detective J.R. Smith and Sgt. Timothy Westwood at 412-323-7161. Callers may remain anonymous. An anonymous tip sheet is available at any city police station or can be downloaded at here and dropped off at any station.
