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发帖数: 3599 | 1 http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2016/02/police_ha
Police haven't ruled out criminal activity in relation to five people who
died Sunday in a house fire in Novi.
While the fire appears accidental, police are investigating the immigration
status of the four known victims, who are originally from Mexico and worked
at a Chinese restaurant owned by the same man, Roger Tam, who owns the home
they lived in.
There also are potential code violations in the home, including the lack of
a working smoke detector and egress windows in the basement where the five
victims lived.
At 9:31 a.m. Jan. 31, Novi firefighters responded to a fire at a residence
at 23184 Mystic Forest Drive, near 9 Mile and Novi Road. Firefighters found
five victims in the basement of the two-story brick home. They performed CPR
on two victims at the scene.
Novi Police Chief David Molloy identified four of the victims Tuesday, Feb.
2 during a press conference: Leonel Alvarado Rodriguez, 18; Miguel Nunez
Diaz, 23; Brayan Alexis Medina Contreras, 16; and Simeon Diaz Nunez, 18.
Novi police are working to identify the fifth victim.
The fire started on a mattress, and investigators have not ruled out smoking
as the cause.
The victims died of smoke and soot inhalation, according to preliminary
autopsy reports.
Novi Police press conference
Novi Police held a press conference regarding Sunday's fire that killed 5
people
The investigation remains ongoing as Novi investigators are working with the
Mexican Consulate in Detroit to determine the immigration status of the
known victims.
Tam, who police believe is a legal resident, called 911 Sunday morning.
Police believe he may have arrived to pick up the four known victims to go
to work at Kim's Garden, the Chinese seafood restaurant he owns two miles
away from the home.
Police have spoken to Tam once, and he has since hired an attorney.
"Tam seems to hold many of those keys at this point in time," Molloy said.
Molloy said they have not ruled out human trafficking, although it is too
early to tell if that's why the victims were in Michigan.
The four known victims have relatives in Michigan.
Public records show Tam owns three homes in Novi; police visited his other
properties and do not believe there are any criminal activities connected
with them.
Tam and his family bounce between that house and another in Novi, Molloy
said.
Kim's Garden
Kim's Garden, 26150 Novi Road in Novi on Sunday.
Lindsay Knake | MLive.com
The Ann Arbor News-MLive could not reach Tam for comment.
Kim's Garden was closed Sunday, with a sign on the door telling customers a
power outage forced the closure, although the sign outside the restaurant
was lit.
The restaurant remained closed Tuesday, a sign on the restaurant said it is
closed temporary.
There are also potential code violations involved in the investigation,
according to police.
The victims appeared to live in the finished basement of the home. The
basement had no egress windows, only glass block windows, Molloy said.
The basement smoke detector appeared disabled because the victims would cook
in the basement, according to police. Neighbors could hear other smoke
detectors going off Sunday morning.
There is no evidence the victims were trapped in the basement because of a
locked door, Molloy said.
It appeared two of the victims were trying to get out of a room, but were
overcome with smoke and soot, he said. The fifth, unidentified victim was
significantly burned. Investigators made need DNA from relatives to confirm
his identity.
Molloy said the investigation will take many more days. Police will turn the
investigation over to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office for any
potential charges.
Meanwhile, police are asking anyone with information to come forward.
"We're looking to get to bottom of what took five lives," Molloy said.
Anyone with information regarding the incident should call Detective Sgt.
Scott Baetens and 248-347-0530. | l**********1
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