5-25-2008 Delaware:A man died Saturday when a mobile home caught fire after police received a report about a sexual assault there, officials said.
Troopers were on their way to the mobile home near Frederica to investigate the alleged assault when they received word that it was on fire, said Cpl. Jeff Whitmarsh, a Delaware State Police spokesman.
Firefighters pulled Derek Hawkins, 36, out of the burning home and took him to Kent General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Whitmarsh said.
Hawkins lived in the High Point Mobile Home Park, near U.S. 113, Whitmarsh said.
Police received word about the assault allegation when the mother of the alleged 16-year-old victim called them at 11:47 a.m.
The girl told her mother Saturday morning that Hawkins had assaulted her within the past several weeks, Whitmarsh said.
After the mother called police, she called Hawkins to say police were on their way to his house, Whitmarsh said.
It was shortly after that call -- just after noon -- that the mobile home caught fire, Whitmarsh said.
The girl and her mother were taken to the state police station in Camden as part of the investigation.
The fire damage was estimated at $30,000, according to the state fire marshal.
There were two operating smoke alarms inside the home, the fire marshal reported.
One other trailer was damaged but the residents of that trailer were able to return to their home, said Michael Chionchio, assistant state fire marshal.
The American Red Cross is assisting the one adult and four children who were displaced, Chionchio said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, Chionchio said. So is the investigation into the assault and death, police said.
An autopsy is scheduled for today. ..News Source.. by Aaron Nathans
Investigators: Kent man set fire that killed him
6-3-2008 Delaware:
A Kent County area man who died in a fire last month deliberately set the fire himself, state fire officials said today.
Derek N. Hawkins, 36, died in the May 24 fire in the first block of Sycamore Drive in the High Point Mobile Home Park in Little Heaven.
Assistant State Fire Marshal Michael Chinochio said fire investigators found several fires had been started inside the dwelling by Hawkins, trapping him inside the burning home.
He was found by firefighters unconscious in a bathroom.
He was taken to Kent General Hospital, where he died.
Chinochio said Hawkins had been involved in a domestic dispute with family members prior to the fire and became violent.
State troopers were on their way to the mobile home to investigate an alleged sexual assault when they received word that it was on fire, said state police spokesman Cpl. Jeff Whitmarsh.
Police received word about the assault allegation when the mother of the alleged 16-year-old victim called them.
The girl told her mother that Hawkins had assaulted her within the past several weeks, Whitmarsh said.
Chinochio said there were operating smoke alarms inside the trailer, but Hawkins was the only one inside when the fire ignited.
Damage was estimated at $30,000.
Hawkins’ death is the fifth fire fatality in Delaware this year. ..News Source.. by Terri Sanginiti
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