MONROE - A 16-year-old girl may face multiple charges for starting a fatal Easter morning fire in Monroe.
The March 23 house fire that killed Jeffrey R. Sullivan, 37, of Monroe, was caused by an intentional act, investigators determined. The Monroe Fire and Police departments and State Fire Marshal's office conducted the investigation. Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley announced the findings Wednesday morning.
Kelley would not name the 16-year-old girl because she's a juvenile, but said she will be referred to juvenile intake workers for charges. She could be charged with arson, felony murder in conjunction with an arson and multiple counts of injury by negligent handling of fire. Sullivan's death and the fact that three Monroe firefighters were injured battling the blaze would be factors in the charges, Kelley said in a news release.
The Sullivans' 16-year-old daughter, Julia, also was injured in the fire. Deputy Fire Chief Lane Heins told a Madison radio station Julia was taken to Monroe Clinic with severe burns, then Med-Flighted to University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison. No information about her health is available due to privacy laws.
The house fire was reported around 12:30 a.m. March 23 at 2415 16th St. The fire started in the basement, according to Kelley.
Sullivan was found in the basement after firefighters and police were called to the scene. Sullivan's family has said he went to the basement to rescue his daughter.
Ruth Sullivan, 35, and her children, Julia, 16; David, 13; and Levi, 12, were outside the home when officers arrived. They told police officers Jeffrey was still in the house. Officers tried to find a way into the home but couldn't because of smoke and flames. Kelley said the officers walked around all sides of the house but weren't able to find a way to get inside.
Monroe firefighters arrived at the scene shortly thereafter and entered the home. They located Sullivan with a thermal imaging camera.
Heins said Sullivan was unconscious but breathing when he was located by firefighters.
There were no working smoke detectors in the home and there was no second way of escape from the basement.
State Medical Examiner Robert Korliss has determined Sullivan died from a combination of fire-related injuries shortly after he was taken to Monroe Clinic, Kelley said in today's news release. The final determination of the cause of death will be made by the Green County Coroner's office. Green County Coroner Janet Perry said this morning she's unsure when that determination will be made and is waiting for more information.
The March 23 house fire that killed Jeffrey R. Sullivan, 37, of Monroe, was caused by an intentional act, investigators determined. The Monroe Fire and Police departments and State Fire Marshal's office conducted the investigation. Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley announced the findings Wednesday morning.
Kelley would not name the 16-year-old girl because she's a juvenile, but said she will be referred to juvenile intake workers for charges. She could be charged with arson, felony murder in conjunction with an arson and multiple counts of injury by negligent handling of fire. Sullivan's death and the fact that three Monroe firefighters were injured battling the blaze would be factors in the charges, Kelley said in a news release.
The Sullivans' 16-year-old daughter, Julia, also was injured in the fire. Deputy Fire Chief Lane Heins told a Madison radio station Julia was taken to Monroe Clinic with severe burns, then Med-Flighted to University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison. No information about her health is available due to privacy laws.
The house fire was reported around 12:30 a.m. March 23 at 2415 16th St. The fire started in the basement, according to Kelley.
Sullivan was found in the basement after firefighters and police were called to the scene. Sullivan's family has said he went to the basement to rescue his daughter.
Ruth Sullivan, 35, and her children, Julia, 16; David, 13; and Levi, 12, were outside the home when officers arrived. They told police officers Jeffrey was still in the house. Officers tried to find a way into the home but couldn't because of smoke and flames. Kelley said the officers walked around all sides of the house but weren't able to find a way to get inside.
Monroe firefighters arrived at the scene shortly thereafter and entered the home. They located Sullivan with a thermal imaging camera.
Heins said Sullivan was unconscious but breathing when he was located by firefighters.
There were no working smoke detectors in the home and there was no second way of escape from the basement.
State Medical Examiner Robert Korliss has determined Sullivan died from a combination of fire-related injuries shortly after he was taken to Monroe Clinic, Kelley said in today's news release. The final determination of the cause of death will be made by the Green County Coroner's office. Green County Coroner Janet Perry said this morning she's unsure when that determination will be made and is waiting for more information.