Investigators looking into death during Sunday morning fire

An investigation is underway into the death of an elderly man in a fire Sunday morning in Columbus.

According to the Columbus Police and Fire Departments, rescue workers were called to a home in the 5200 block of Miami Drive at about 6:14 a.m. Sunday morning. That came after a neighbor in the duplex noticed smoke inside. The neighbor tried to contact the man who lived in the other half of the building but was not able to do so before firefighters arrived.

When rescue workers entered the home they found 85-year-old Don Horne deceased inside and a smoldering fire that had spread to the home’s attic The fire was extinguished and investigators were called to the scene including Columbus police detectives, Columbus Fire Department’s fire marshal and the Bartholomew County coroner’s office.

An autopsy was conducted on Monday and results are still pending. The investigation into the circumstances of the death continue, but there are no indications yet of foul play.

Columbus Regional Health medics also assisted at the scene.