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| Florida detectives investigate 'unusual' deaths of family in Blake mansion fire | Florida detectives investigate 'unusual' deaths of family in Blake mansion fire |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Forensic experts joined detectives sifting through the remains of tennis star James Blake’s burned-out Florida mansion on Thursday for clues about the fire and the “unusual” deaths of a family of four who were renting the property. | |
| Investigators are pursuing the theory of murder-suicide in the | |
| deaths of businessman Darrin Campbell, 49, his wife Kimberley, 51, and | |
| children Colin, 19, and Megan, 16, who began renting the house from the | |
| now-retired tennis ace Blake almost two years ago, and whose bodies were | |
| discovered in separate rooms by firefighters. They had all been shot | |
| before the home burned down in what | |
| investigators have called arson. | |
| Traces of an accelerant and numerous fireworks were found scattered through the five-bedroom home in Tampa’s exclusive Avila Golf and Country Club. At least two of the victims suffered upper-body trauma and neighbours reported hearing gunshots. | Traces of an accelerant and numerous fireworks were found scattered through the five-bedroom home in Tampa’s exclusive Avila Golf and Country Club. At least two of the victims suffered upper-body trauma and neighbours reported hearing gunshots. |
| “We are not looking for a suspect,” said Debbie Carter, spokesperson for the Hillsborough county sheriff’s office. “[But] this investigation is very meticulous. There is a lot of stuff to go through.” | |
| Neighbours reported that a huge fireball ripped through $1.5m property at about 5.45am on Wednesday. The 5,800-square-ft house, purchased by Blake in 2005, was destroyed in the subsequent blaze that took firefighters more than six hours to fully extinguish. | Neighbours reported that a huge fireball ripped through $1.5m property at about 5.45am on Wednesday. The 5,800-square-ft house, purchased by Blake in 2005, was destroyed in the subsequent blaze that took firefighters more than six hours to fully extinguish. |
| A frantic witness told the dispatcher in a 911 call: “I was walking my dogs and as I passed by the house exploded, oh my God.” | A frantic witness told the dispatcher in a 911 call: “I was walking my dogs and as I passed by the house exploded, oh my God.” |
| Detectives said the fire was intentionally set and that fireworks were present in various places around the house. “I’m sure they went off as the fire was occurring,” said Colonel Donna Lusczynski of the Hillsborough sheriff’s office, adding that the explosions could explain what witnesses suggested might have been gunshots. | Detectives said the fire was intentionally set and that fireworks were present in various places around the house. “I’m sure they went off as the fire was occurring,” said Colonel Donna Lusczynski of the Hillsborough sheriff’s office, adding that the explosions could explain what witnesses suggested might have been gunshots. |
| “We haven’t recovered any weapon. On two of the victims there is upper-body trauma. It’s unusual, yes,” she said. | “We haven’t recovered any weapon. On two of the victims there is upper-body trauma. It’s unusual, yes,” she said. |
| She said she was unable to confirm the quantity, type or exact locations of the fireworks, and did not address a claim from a local TV reporter made on Wednesday that at least one of the victims was found with a firework strapped to their head. | She said she was unable to confirm the quantity, type or exact locations of the fireworks, and did not address a claim from a local TV reporter made on Wednesday that at least one of the victims was found with a firework strapped to their head. |
| Investigators have also spoken to Blake, 34, at his home in Connecticut. He is not considered to be involved other than being the landlord of the property. Mr Campbell’s mother, Mary Campbell, told the New York Daily News that her son knew the former world No4 tennis player personally and had rented the house from him for about two years. | Investigators have also spoken to Blake, 34, at his home in Connecticut. He is not considered to be involved other than being the landlord of the property. Mr Campbell’s mother, Mary Campbell, told the New York Daily News that her son knew the former world No4 tennis player personally and had rented the house from him for about two years. |
| Friends said the Campbells were well liked in the Avila neighbourhood, one of the most exclusive developments in Tampa and home to several prominent athletes, including baseball stars Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. | Friends said the Campbells were well liked in the Avila neighbourhood, one of the most exclusive developments in Tampa and home to several prominent athletes, including baseball stars Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. |
| “They were a very nice family, we know nothing of any problems,” said George Connley, a former neighbour. “The kids were outstanding children. This is very difficult to put our arms around.” He described Kimberley Campbell as “sophisticated and classy”. | “They were a very nice family, we know nothing of any problems,” said George Connley, a former neighbour. “The kids were outstanding children. This is very difficult to put our arms around.” He described Kimberley Campbell as “sophisticated and classy”. |
| Mr Campbell was formerly a senior executive of a container manufacturing company and left in 2007 to join the technology and software arm of Ivans, an insurance agency. He lost his job when Ivans was taken over by Applied Systems last year. | Mr Campbell was formerly a senior executive of a container manufacturing company and left in 2007 to join the technology and software arm of Ivans, an insurance agency. He lost his job when Ivans was taken over by Applied Systems last year. |
| Both children were honour roll students at Tampa’s private Carrollwood Day School, where their father was treasurer to the board of trustees. Colin Campbell, an outstanding baseball player, was due to graduate this summer while his sister Megan, a keen dancer, had only recently tweeted about winning an academic award. | Both children were honour roll students at Tampa’s private Carrollwood Day School, where their father was treasurer to the board of trustees. Colin Campbell, an outstanding baseball player, was due to graduate this summer while his sister Megan, a keen dancer, had only recently tweeted about winning an academic award. |
| Ryan Kelly, the school’s principal, said the two teenagers were popular, and that grief counselors were at the school on Thursday. “The tenor of the school is sadness. That is pervasive around the school,” he said. | Ryan Kelly, the school’s principal, said the two teenagers were popular, and that grief counselors were at the school on Thursday. “The tenor of the school is sadness. That is pervasive around the school,” he said. |
| Col Lusczynski said the four bodies were removed from the property by the Hillsborough County medical examiner on Wednesday but it was undetermined when the autopsies would be complete. | Col Lusczynski said the four bodies were removed from the property by the Hillsborough County medical examiner on Wednesday but it was undetermined when the autopsies would be complete. |
| She added that the investigation into their deaths could be a lengthy process. “It’s a very arduous task and takes time because of the severe water damage and fire damage,” she said. | She added that the investigation into their deaths could be a lengthy process. “It’s a very arduous task and takes time because of the severe water damage and fire damage,” she said. |
| Detectives were also looking into a claim that Darrin Campbell bought a dozen packets of fireworks on Sunday, three days before the fire. William Weimer, the Ohio-based vice-president of Phantom Fireworks, said on Thursday that Campbell had purchased six packets of aerial fireworks and six packets of firecrackers from a company store in Tampa. | Detectives were also looking into a claim that Darrin Campbell bought a dozen packets of fireworks on Sunday, three days before the fire. William Weimer, the Ohio-based vice-president of Phantom Fireworks, said on Thursday that Campbell had purchased six packets of aerial fireworks and six packets of firecrackers from a company store in Tampa. |
| The Associated Press contributed to this report. | The Associated Press contributed to this report. |