Update (April 8):
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR – Police have released the names of a man and woman killed in a house fire early Tuesday.
They are identified as Marcus Harmon, 43, and Stephanie Mcelyea, 44.
The couple died inside their home at 1307 W. 16th Street.
Police say the victims were found in the attic of the home.
“It looks like they were actually using the attic as living space at least part time,” Fire Chief John Pflasterer told us on Tuesday.
The North Little Rock Police Department says investigators are still waiting on reports from the North Little Rock Fire Department’s Fire Marshal’s office and the Coroner’s office.
The causes of death for the victims and the fire are still yet to be determined.
Original story (April 7):
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR – A roaring early morning house fire in North Little Rock has claimed the lives of two people.
“He loved Stephanie and they was just there alone with each other in love,” says Tracy Dill, the step-sister of the man killed in the blaze.
Family members and neighbors describe Stephanie Mcelyea and Marcus Harmon as a friendly couple who kept to themselves.
“Long-time good friends and it’s a shame to see something like this happen,” says neighbor Danny Zakrzewski. It was 5:30 Tuesday morning when neighbors say they smelled smoke coming from the home off 16th Street in North Little Rock.
“Me and my daughter went and knocked on the door and tried to get them to answer the door but the door was getting too hot. All of the sudden it was just like a big ole boom,” says neighbor Sharon Mayo.
Fire charred the inside and melted siding on the back half of the home.
“You could visibly see the flames coming out the side windows here,” says Zakrzewski.
It took crews 30 minutes to get the fire out. When they searched the home, two bodies were found in the attic.
“It looks like they were actually using the attic as living space at least part time,” says Chief John Pflasterer.
Investigators believe the fire started in a bedroom on the bottom floor. So far they do not suspect arson but the cause is still under investigation. No smoke detectors were found in the home, investigators say.
“We’re just gonna miss them we all kind of look out for each other in the neighborhood,” says Zakrzewski.
Zakrzewski lived across the street from Stephanie and her family for 30 years. Marcus was Tracy Dill’s step brother.