Coroner says woman found dead after house fire died before blaze started

Las Vegas police are investigating a homicide after the Clark County coroner determined that a woman found dead after a Monday morning house fire had died before the fire began.

Firefighters discovered the body of 54-year-old Carol Lopez of Las Vegas inside an apparently vacant home in the 4100 block of East Boston Avenue after extinguishing a fire at the home just after 4 a.m. Monday.

Fire investigators called in the Metropolitan Police Department’s homicide detectives to investigate because the body appeared suspicious. Lopez was found in a front bedroom of the home, but the fire began at the back of the house.

The coroner determined that Lopez died from blunt force head trauma. Her death was ruled a homicide.

This is the 106th homicide Metro has investigated this year.

Anyone with information on the incident can contact Metro’s homicide section at 702-828-3521 or Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 anonymous.

Contact Max Michor at mmichor@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find @MaxMichor on Twitter.