Money Said to Be Missing in Fatal Fire

Several thousand dollars was missing from a Hollywood Hills home intentionally set afire Saturday and where four people were found dead, the family’s attorney said.

Pierpont Laidley, an attorney for Harish “Harry” Kumar, said $3,000 to $4,000 that Kumar’s wife, who died along with her two children and Kumar’s mother, should have been counting on Saturday night is unaccounted for. The money was in small bills and coins taken in by motels the family owns.

Laidley, the family business’ attorney, said Gita Kumar had returned from India on Friday and was catching up on bookkeeping.

“The money is missing,” Laidley said, suggesting that it may be tied to the crime. “It is a substantial sum of money for some people.”

LAPD robbery-homicide Capt. Jim Tatreau would not comment on the case, but he said police have no suspects.

Gita Kumar, 43, Paras Kumar, 18, Tulsi Kumar, 16, and Sitaben Patel, 63, died in the Lakeridge Drive home.

Investigators said the fire started in two bedrooms and that a flammable liquid was detected in more than one location.

Harish Kumar, 47, told investigators he returned home from a trip to Bakersfield with friends about 11:15 p.m. Saturday to discover the house on fire and immediately called 911. He was interviewed by detectives for several hours on Sunday.

The county coroner’s office examined the bodies Tuesday, but more tests will be conducted to determine the cause of death, said Craig Harvey, the coroner’s chief of operations. The tests could take up to eight weeks, he said.

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Times staff writer Andrew Blankstein contributed to this report.