SPRINGHILL – RCMP are still not saying how two people found inside a Springhill home following a fire Tuesday afternoon died.
“I cannot comment on that until the results of the autopsy are determined,” RCMP spokesman Cpl. Dal Hutchinson said late Wednesday.
As much as people in the community are speculating the two suffered a violent death, Hutchinson said it’s much too early in the investigation to say if foul play is suspected or if there any suspects.
Cumberland District RCMP were called to the quiet dead-end lane on the outskirts of Springhill just before 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday after Springhill firefighters located the remains of two people inside the home while extinguishing a fire.
The older two-storey home was located on Beatons Lane that runs off the Athol Road just west of the former town of Springhill. There are several homes on the street, but no one wanted to talk to the media following the fire and RCMP had the street blocked off on Wednesday.
The ages, genders and identities of both remains cannot be confirmed at this time.
Hutchinson said because the fire was deemed suspicious, and will be until proven otherwise, the area around the property will remain a crime scene.
“We are looking at the cause of the fire,” Hutchinson said. “We’re trying to piece it together. That’s where major crimes comes in. There’s very little more we can say at this time.”
The RCMP's Northeast Nova Major Crimes Unit continues to investigate the incident with assistance from the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner's Service and the Office of the Fire Marshall.
Springhill resident Doug Williams said the community is a bit on edge following the fire and the discovery of the two bodies.
Williams, a former Springhill police officer, said he was told the couple were from Ontario and had recently purchased the home, which they were in the process of renovating.
“There are a lot of rumours around the community about what took place and we really haven’t been told anything official by the RCMP,” said Williams. “It’s something that’s tough on the community. Even though they weren’t from Springhill it’s still a concern here, even if it was a murder or a murder-suicide. No one wants to see something like that happen.”
Williams is also thinking of the firefighters who were first to enter the home and find the bodies as well as the RCMP officers who were called to investigate.
“It’s very hard to deal with. The biggest thing is having someone to talk about after,” Williams said. “I’ve been there and you can say you’re tough, but when you look back it’s sometimes hard to deal with.”
Williams, who is one of two Springhill representatives on Cumberland municipal council, is also hoping RCMP will update the community as soon as possible to answer questions and allay any fears people may have.
Twitter: @ADNdarrell
