DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – Firefighters found a person dead after responding to a residential fire on Friday morning in Deerfield Beach.
Firefighters and police officers responded to a duplex at about 4:30 a.m. along Northwest Fourth Avenue, near 43rd Street.
The victim was idenified by the Broward Sheriff’s Office as 54-year-old Ana De Souza.
“I got the call, and at first, I cried,” the victim’s granddaughter, Ayllah Costa, 14, said.
Fire crews quickly extinguished the flames but discovered a woman’s body inside the home.
“I thought it was in our driveway,” said Alicia Baiocchi, who lives nearby. “I have six kids. We grabbed the newborn, put her in the car seat.”
“There was no way someone could survive that,” Baiocchi added.
According to Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Chief Battalion Michael Kane, firefighters found the person dead in a bedroom and rescued a dog from the fire.
Costa said detectives are investigating whether De Souza was killed before the fire started.
Broward deputies confirmed the incident is being treated as a death investigation while the State Fire Marshal works to determine the cause of the blaze.
Two men who escaped the fire were questioned by detectives. Costa said they are family friends who rented a room from her grandmother.
As the investigation continues, Costa is calling for answers.
“I really do want justice for her,” Ayllah said. “She was a really happy woman (and) she had plans for the future.”
David Liz said he was heartbroken when he heard about the incident.
“I can’t believe it. She’s a nice person and so sweet,” he said.
Detectives asked anyone with information about this or other cases to call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477 to remain anonymous.