Five Bodies Found After Suspected Arson at Condominium

Investigators found five bodies in what appeared to be an arson blaze that erupted Saturday at a condominium in a gated community.

“Five people are dead and there were three separate incidents of fire set in the residence,” said San Diego County Sheriff’s Lt. Jerry Lipscomb.

The blaze erupted on Bronze Way in Vista, about 40 miles northeast of San Diego. The cause of the 4 p.m. fire was under investigation.

The bodies were not immediately identified.

Among the dead were a man and woman, in their 50s or 60s. Also found were another man and woman, who appeared to be in their 40s, and a girl around 10, Lipscomb said.

Investigators were searching for a Mercedes-Benz with Nevada license plates. They say a young man was seen leaving the area driving the car, and they believe it belonged to the couple who lived at the residence.

Resident Audrey Bourne said all was quiet at the Terraces condominiums, a gated community of about 40 houses.

“There were no noises,” she said.

Another neighbor, Cindy Hart, was sitting in her condominium when her son came running in and told her about the fire.

Hart and another woman grabbed fire extinguishers and broke the window of the master bedroom, where they could see flames, she said.

“There was so much smoke and flame back there I couldn’t see anything,” she said.

“If I knew someone was in there I would have gone in to get them,” she said, breaking down in tears.