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Three brothers with disabilities found dead after house fire, police investigating arson

SHENANGO TWP., Pa. (WKBN) – Three developmentally-disabled brothers were found dead following a fire at their home on Thursday that investigators ruled an arson.

Pennsylvania State Police has identified the men as 50-year-old Daniel Fombelle, 56-year-old Robert Fombelle and 57-year-old Richard Fombelle. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

The Fire Marshal ruled the fire an arson later Thursday evening and police are investigating it as a triple homicide.

“We’re still at the beginning stages of the investigation and we’re going to treat it as suspicious deaths. Right now, we are going to start it at the worst-case scenario and rule it as a homicide for now, and work backwards from there,” said Lt. Eric Hermick with Pennsylvania State Police.

Fire investigators said the scene was “odd,” because the bodies were not burned. Investigators added that the fire appears to have started in several places.

“The Fire Marshal readily identified several points of origin of the fire, which, in essence, means it had to be set at several locations, which ruled out…an accidental fire,” Hermick said.

There are holes in the basement and a window, and a van next to the house was also set on fire. A search dog also found accelerant on the ground near the home.

A family member who lives nearby saw the fire and tried to kick in the door, calling rescue crews around 7:30 a.m. to the Circle Drive home where the men lived.

The bodies were discovered a couple of hours later in the basement after a search of the home.

The Lawrence County Coroner said the causes of death would not be available until Friday.

Police are still investigating the incident.