A massive fire ripped through a duplex on Cleveland's west side Saturday morning. One resident is dead, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's office. Cleveland Police said his girlfriend is charged with aggravated murder.
“My reaction was what in the world was going on," said Edsel Adkins, a Platten Ave. resident. "I couldn’t figure out why there would be a fire at 4:30 in the morning.”
The fire broke out at 8605 Platten Ave., a two-unit duplex surrounded by other homes.
"There were three fire trucks here and about 20 firemen," added Adkins.
The medical examiner identified the deceased man as 46-year-old Frank Salamone. Cleveland Police arrested 49-year-old Elizabeth Scott. Official documents indicate both lived at the same address.
Adkins said Scott suffered from mental health issues. She and Salamone lived with 27-year-old Justin Blackburn, who police say suffered a sprained ankle from the incident. Officers found him in the front yard. Adkins said he jumped out of a top floor window.
Court documents indicate that Scott had been found guilty of disorderly conduct three times in the past four years. Adkins said she was arrested on scene yesterday.
"She had gotten out of the house and took off down the corner," he added.
