Crime & Safety
East Hanover Woman Dies in Backyard Fire
Authorities investigate circumstances of Kim DeOliveira's death in a mysterious fire across the street from her home.
The body of a 53-year-old East Hanover woman killed in a backyard fire was found Monday on Phyldan Road, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said.
Kim DeOliveira died from injuries sustained in a fire in a backyard structure on Phyldan Road, the prosecutor's office said Tuesday.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the death and autopsy results are pending, the prosecutor's office said.
DeOliveira lived with her husband, Fred, at 44 Phyldan Road. The fire, however, occurred directly across the street at 39 Phyldan Road where Steve Pezzino lives.
Pezzino said he saw several small fires in the woods behind his property at about 3 a.m. Monday, according to the Daily Record. After firefighters extinguished the blaze, Pezzino said he encountered Fred DeOliveira, who was looking for his wife at about 5 a.m., the article said.
Multiple agencies blocked off the roadway Monday as investigators probed the area and woods on the residential street off Ridgedale Avenue near Interstate 280.
The Major Crimes Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, East Hanover Police Department, Morris County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Section and the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office are conducting the investigation.
No further information was released Tuesday morning.
Anyone with information about the fire can contact the East Hanover Police at 973-887-0432 or the Morris County Prosecutor's Major Crimes Unit at 973-285-6200.
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