The body of a 13-year-old Littleton girl was found sprawled on the floor of her family’s burning garage Wednesday afternoon, said police spokesman Sgt. Sean Dugan.
He said the cause and manner of Jessica Elaine Meyer’s death haven’t been determined, including whether it was an accident.
Arson investigators are working with police detectives, Dugan said.
Firefighters were called to the home, 8065 S. Logan Drive, at 12:31 p.m.
The garage was fully engulfed when they arrived five minutes later, and in the course of extinguishing the blaze, they found the girl’s body.
“We’re keeping a real broad perspective (about what happened),” Dugan said. “It could be something that was unintentional, an accident, or it could have been intentional involving foul play.
“We’re not ready to hang our hat on any particular reason.
“I don’t think anything is readily apparent” as far as the cause of death, he said. It is being investigated as a suspicious death, he added.
Dugan said garage fires often burn quickly because of several types of accelerants, such as oil, turpentine and paint, that are typically stored there.
Meyer was home alone at the time.
“She could have heard the commotion and came down to investigate. She could have opened the door and was overcome by the smoke,” Dugan said.
The doors to the garage were burned through.
Her parents were at work at the time and an older brother was in the neighborhood but not at home, Dugan said.
Meyer completed eighth grade at Powell Middle School a couple of weeks ago and was going into high school in the fall, Dugan said.
Staff writer Jim Kirksey can be reached at 303-820-1448 or jkirksey@denverpost.com.
