MIDDLETOWN, Ohio -- A woman found dead inside a burning home on Jacoby Avenue last week was dead before the fire started, her family told the Journal-News.
"(Police) have told us she didn’t die from the fire," said Tina Payne, the sister of Tiffany Hoskins, a 36-year-old mother of two whose body was found by firefighters.
Firefighters found flames shooting from the second floor of the home when they arrived at about 4:20 a.m. Nov. 5. After being told the home was vacant and fighting the blaze for about 10 minutes, firefighters found Hoskins' body at the top of the home’s stairway.
Hoskins' cause of death is still pending by the Butler County Coroner’s Office.
Police detectives declined to comment today on the cause of death, but have said the fire is being investigated as an arson.
Detectives have worked non-stop on the investigation in the past week, Middletown police Lt. Jim Cunningham told the Journal-News. He said police have served 11 search warrants and are eliminating suspects.
A vigil is planned for 6:30 p.m. Sunday at 1507 Jacoby.
Hoskins' family is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for her death.
Payne said if people don’t want to call police with tips, they can contact the family at 937-232-4690 or 513-464-1951. She said callers can remain anonymous.
The Journal-News is a news partner of WCPO.
