LUMBERTON, Texas — A Lumberton woman lost her life late Thursday night in a house fire.
Initially the fire was ruled accidental but after further investigation, Lumberton Police Chief Danny Sullins tells 12News, a preliminary investigation reveals 71 year old Janice Dill Sherwood is the victim of a homicide.
Lumberton Police are working in conjunction with the State Fire Marshall and the Jefferson County Crime Lab to assist in processing the crime scene.
The fire in the 500 block of Horn Road was reported just before 10 p.m., according to Lumberton Police Chief Danny Sullins.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire quickly but afterwards discovered the body of 71-year-old Janice Sherwood, Sullins said.
Sherwood was pronounced dead at the scene by Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Judge Tommy Hall, according to Sullins.
Lumberton firefighters and medics as well as police officers responded to the fire.
No one else was in the home at the time of the fire which initially was believed to be accidental.
If anyone has information on this homicide please call the Lumberton Police Department at 755-3400 or Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas at 833-TIPS.
GET NEWS & WEATHER ALERTS | Download the 12News App to your mobile device
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 12NewsNow app.
Have a news tip? Email 12news@12newsnow.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter.
