The Nation - News from July 22, 1985

The Philadelphia medical examiner’s office ruled that all 11 deaths in the police assault on the headquarters of the radical MOVE group were “accidental,” an official said. “The deaths were accidental, as far as we can determine,” said Assistant Medical Examiner Dr. Halbert Fillinger, who examined three of the bodies. Forensic experts concluded a two-month investigation of the remains of the MOVE victims--all of whom appear to have died of fire-related injuries. They were killed in a massive fire that broke out shortly after police dropped a bomb on MOVE headquarters after a gun battle and daylong stalemate. The blaze also damaged or destroyed 61 houses in the working-class neighborhood, leaving about 250 persons homeless.