Office Building Fire That Killed Homeless Woman Ruled Arson

A commercial building fire, which killed a homeless woman Sunday morning, was set by an arsonist, police said Monday.

Police identified the victim as 24-year-old Dana Rae Pearson, a homeless woman who had been living in the mostly empty office building at 1001 E. Washington St. Pearson died from smoke inhalation caused by the fire.

Lt. Bob Helton said that police investigators consider her death a homicide.

“We’re not sure whether whoever did it knew she was in there or not,” Helton said, “but the fire caused her death.”

The one-story building once housed Superior Fence Inc., a chain-link manufacturing company that went out of business several months ago. Police say the owner of the building, Steven Wehunt, also lived in one of the building’s offices.

Witnesses say that many homeless people had been staying in the building since the weather turned cold. Pearson stayed at the building frequently, police said.

Investigators say they have no suspects.

Fire Department spokeswoman Lori Smith said investigators sifted through the remains of the fire Monday and were able to confirm the arson. But investigators said they could not reveal any specifics in the case.

The blaze broke out Sunday at about 9 a.m. Firefighters found Pearson’s body inside. One man escaped the fire after neighbors kicked down a door. A woman and her two children, who also lived in the building, escaped harm.