Woman Dies After Fire Police Believe Was Intentional

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A domestic dispute is to blame for a fire that left a woman dead.

Police were called to a home on the 2900 block of Taylor Street Northeast just before 7 a.m. Thursday on an unknown trouble call.

When they arrived, they found the house on fire and an adult woman across the street suffering from severe burns.

Shortly after, police located the man they believe is responsible for all of this on the 2900 block of 29th Avenue Northeast after he fled on foot.

Both the suspect and the victim were taken to Hennepin County Medical Center in critical condition to be treated for their injuries. On Thursday afternoon, police said that the woman, who has not yet been identified, died of her injuries.

Police said the man is expected to survive.

Authorities believe he had a domestic relationship of some kind with the female victim and had threatened to burn down the house before.

Neighbors said this is painful ending to a relationship that was dangerous. Multiple neighbors told WCCO the woman had feared for her life before.

Dawn Aherns lives next door, and said she tried to calm the woman as they waited for the ambulance.

"The gal was on her hands and knees yelling, 'Help me, help!' So I ran down there. She was pretty messed up. She's burnt pretty badly," Aherns said. "They have had trouble here at this house before, the boyfriend. I think he went to jail about two months ago for domestic, and I think this might have been retaliation or something. Whatever the case, there was problems here all the time."

As homicide detectives and the arson unit investigate what led up to the fire, neighbors are left to process what happened and if it could have been prevented.

Police and neighbors are hopeful this incident can help others who may be in a domestic violence situation to seek help.

The suspect has not been named as he has not been arrested or charged at this time.