Police speaking to family of Dundas couple killed in fire
The Hamilton police probe into the arson homicides of a well-liked retired Dundas couple continues to focus on questioning family as detectives wait for forensic results from the fire scene.
Carla and Alan Rutherford died July 9 after a fire was deliberately set at their Greening Court rancher. The fast-moving fire began in their bedroom while the couple slept and quickly grew to flames shooting above the treeline.
“We’re working toward clearing the family ... we have not cleared everyone,” Det. Sgt. Steve Bereziuk of the major crime unit said this week. “The entire family remains co-operative.”
Family have declined to speak with media through police. The couple each had two children from previous partners. Carla had two sons and Alan had two daughters. The couple also had eight grandchildren and various other family members survive them.
The couple had no known enemies. They were longtime members and volunteers with the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club. Alan was a runner and Carla a talented quiltmaker. They were often seen in the neighbourhood walking their two chocolate brown Labradors, which survived the fire.
While any possible motive for the fire remain uncertain, police are clear that they do not believe there is threat to the general public.
Bereziuk has said from the beginning this will likely be a long investigation, with the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) report still likely a month away.
Police were able to gather enough initial evidence to say the fire was arson and declare the deaths homicide. But that OFM report should give a better understanding of exactly how the fire began and spread.
However it began, and whatever accelerant was used, the fire was fast. The couple were asleep in their beds when it began in their room, with Carla not able to escape and Alan, despite burns to 80 per cent of his body, somehow mustering enough strength to make it outside to a neighbour’s door where he collapsed. He died later in hospital.
At the house Friday, the property appears untouched and there was no one doing work on the home. Police and the fire marshal are finished with the scene.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Ben Adams at 905-546-3836.