KEARNEY, Neb. - The death of a former Monroe resident is being investigated as a homicide.
Kelcey Fike, 21, a 2005 graduate of Monroe High School, was found dead Tuesday after a house fire inside a single-wide trailer in Kearney.
Authorities investigating the case said at a news conference Thursday that Fike may have died before fire engulfed her bedroom. Kearney Police Chief Dan Lynch said Fike could have died between 3 and 5 a.m. The fire was reported at 4:50 a.m.
"The information that we've received is the manner of death is consistent with a homicide and that's the way we're proceeding with the investigation," Lynch said.
An autopsy was conducted Wednesday in Lincoln, Neb. Lynch would not share how Fike died.
"At this particular time the manner of death is not something we're going to talk about," Lynch said.
Autopsy results have not been released. Lynch doesn't expect complete results for a few weeks.
Fike and her boyfriend rented the trailer. He is in the National Guard and was out of state at the time of Fike's death. He is not considered a suspect, Lynch said.
A newspaper delivery person was first on the scene of the fire. Christine Welsh saw fire shooting out of a window. Welsh said she cracked the door to yell at any occupants, but got no response.
The blaze was contained to a back bedroom of the trailer, where Fike was found.
Lynch said investigators have several suspects, but would not name any of them.
- By Jim Winter of The Monroe Times and Kim Schmidt and Sara Giboney of the Kearney Hub.
Kelcey Fike, 21, a 2005 graduate of Monroe High School, was found dead Tuesday after a house fire inside a single-wide trailer in Kearney.
Authorities investigating the case said at a news conference Thursday that Fike may have died before fire engulfed her bedroom. Kearney Police Chief Dan Lynch said Fike could have died between 3 and 5 a.m. The fire was reported at 4:50 a.m.
"The information that we've received is the manner of death is consistent with a homicide and that's the way we're proceeding with the investigation," Lynch said.
An autopsy was conducted Wednesday in Lincoln, Neb. Lynch would not share how Fike died.
"At this particular time the manner of death is not something we're going to talk about," Lynch said.
Autopsy results have not been released. Lynch doesn't expect complete results for a few weeks.
Fike and her boyfriend rented the trailer. He is in the National Guard and was out of state at the time of Fike's death. He is not considered a suspect, Lynch said.
A newspaper delivery person was first on the scene of the fire. Christine Welsh saw fire shooting out of a window. Welsh said she cracked the door to yell at any occupants, but got no response.
The blaze was contained to a back bedroom of the trailer, where Fike was found.
Lynch said investigators have several suspects, but would not name any of them.
- By Jim Winter of The Monroe Times and Kim Schmidt and Sara Giboney of the Kearney Hub.