A picture taken at the time of last Saturday's fire. (Submitted/ Charles Robichaud)

By Nigel Maxwell

Crime

Weekend house fire leads to homicide investigation

Mar 23, 2021 | 8:21 PM

A suspicious death in Prince Albert’s midtown area last Saturday, has now officially become a homicide investigation.

The Prince Albert Police Service, along with the Chief Coroner’s office, have now identified the deceased person found in the burned home as 29-year-old Jeremy Starblanket from Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation.

At the time of the house fire last Saturday, residents in the area of the 500 block of fifth St. E., reported hearing an explosion and several popping sounds then saw a bunch of black smoke.

The Prince Albert Fire Department later confirmed the single family bungalow was found fully engulfed in flames when crews arrived at 1:38p.m. It was found that an explosion had blown the building off the foundation and then ignited.

Police are now asking anyone who has information or video surveillance footage from the area on Saturday, March 20, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to contact Prince Albert Police or Crime Stoppers.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell