Woman Found Dead in Royal Oak Fire, Son in Custody
(Crystal A. Proxmire, May 23, 2014)
A 69 year old woman was found dead this morning in a house on Altadena in Royal Oak, near 12 Mile and Campbell.
According to police, they had been called to the home around 1am for a dispute involving the woman and her 50-year-old son. When police arrived they had the son in custody.
The woman was found deceased at the bottom of the stairs and the fire appears to have started in the basement, according to Community Outreach Specialist Judy Davids. The fire is still under investigation and the Oakland County Medical Examiner is on the scene.
According to Davids there is extensive smoke and fire damage to the home.
UPDATE: The Royal Oak Police Department sent out the following press release:
The Royal Oak Police Department is investigating the death of Maxine Hadley, a 69-year-old Royal Oak resident. Ms. Hadley called the Royal Oak Police Department on May 23, 2014, at 1:00 a.m., to report a family trouble. Ms. Hadley stated her son was attempting to blow up the house. Responding officers found the house in flames and officers attempted to gain entry into the home, but were forced back by the heat and smoke. Royal Oak Fire
Department personnel were able to gain entry and found Ms. Hadley in the basement, deceased.
The victim’s son, a 50-year-old Royal Oak resident, was arrested at the scene. The suspect was transported to the hospital for treatment on burns to his legs. At the time of his arrest the suspect was attempting to put out the house fire with a garden house.
This incident is being handled as a homicide investigation. The fire appears to have started in the basement and there are also reports of a possible explosion inside the home.
No other injuries were reported and adjacent residences were not damaged by the fire.
The Royal Oak Police Criminal Investigations Division, in conjunction with the Oakland
County Fire Investigation Unit and Royal Oak Fire Department, are investigating the incident