Victims in Fatal Novi Fire Identified
(Novi Police Press Release, Feb. 3, 2016)
Novi, MI – Novi Police have identified the fifth male who died in the residential structure fire on January 31.
The victim is Pablo Alvaro Encino, 23, from Ocosingo, Chiapas, Mexico.
Encino and four other men were found in the basement of a home at 23184 Mystic Forest, located west of Novi Road, south of Ten Mile Road, at 9:31 am on Sunday, January 31 following a fire.
The other victims identified Tuesday were: • Leonel Alvarado Rodriguez, 18, from Lagos De Marino, Jalisco, Mexico • Miguel Nunez Diaz, 23, from Las Choapas, Vera Cruz, Mexico • Brayan Alexis Medina Contreras, 16, from Pinos, Zacatecas, Mexico • Simeon Diaz Nunez, 18, from Santa Maria Chimalapa Juchitan, Oaxaca, Mexico
The United States Department of Homeland Security has verified the five men were not U.S. citizens.
Novi Police also believe all five men worked at Kim’s Garden restaurant in Novi.
The preliminary cause of the fire is undetermined, however, it appears accidental. The origin of the fire was on a mattress in the basement of the home. Preliminary autopsy results from the Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled the manner of death accidental and the cause of death smoke and soot inhalation. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to please call Detective Sergeant Scott Baetens at 248-347-0530.
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