Police confirm identities of man and woman who died in New Jersey house fire linked to murder-suicide.
The Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed the identities of two individuals found deceased in a house fire classified as a murder-suicide in Washington Township. The victims, identified as Michelle Whiting, 45, from Gloucester City, and Daniel Steele, 59, from Sewell, were discovered shortly after 2 a.m. on Mother’s Day when emergency responders were alerted to a fire on Tranquillity Court.
Upon arrival, fire crews found the residence fully engulfed in flames, with the fire significantly damaging the exterior of two adjacent homes before it was fully brought under control. The intensity of the blaze raised immediate concerns about the nature of the incident.
Investigative efforts revealed that Steele’s body was located in the living room, positioned next to a handgun, while Whiting was found in the bedroom with a gunshot wound to the head, which authorities believe occurred prior to the outbreak of the fire. The county medical examiner subsequently ruled Whiting’s death a homicide, whereas Steele’s death was classified as a suicide resulting from the fire.
A preliminary investigation indicated that the gas line in the home had been interfered with, allowing for an unrestricted flow of natural gas within the structure. Additionally, signs of an accelerant were identified at the scene, leading investigators to suspect foul play.
Before the tragic incident, Steele reportedly left his dog, named Billy, with an ex-girlfriend, Nicole Ruiz. Preliminary reports suggest that Steele sent her a concerning email expressing deep remorse and indicating that he would not be alive by the time she read it, leading to further scrutiny into his state of mind before the incident.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, the Washington Township Police Department, and the Gloucester County Fire Marshal’s Office. Local residents initially perceived the fire as an unfortunate accident, with one neighbor expressing shock upon learning the true nature of the events that transpired.
As the investigation continues, authorities are piecing together the circumstances leading up to this tragic occurrence, which has left the community grappling with its aftermath.
