Second body discovered at fire scene in Point Breeze

Authorities said they discovered a second body Tuesday at a Point Breeze home where a man was found dead after a fire a day earlier.

The Allegheny County medical examiner’s office said officials found the body of John Robert Van Dyke, 54, of Swissvale at the house in the 100 block of Penfield Place.

The fire was reported about 2 p.m. Monday. The body of 71year-old Steven Pariser was found after the fire was extinguished, and he was pronounced dead at 3:33 p.m. Monday, according to Pittsburgh police.

Mr. Pariser owned the home where the fire broke out, county records show.

Mr. Van Dyke was pronounced dead at 11:15 a.m., although it’s unclear if that’s the time police found his body. Police spokeswoman Alicia George said investigators worked the scene Monday night, secured the area and then returned Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. to continue.

Another person was critically injured in the blaze and was taken to a hospital Monday. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Derek Rochna, 27, who lives close to the scene on Penfield Court, said he was getting something out of his car Monday afternoon when he heard “a bunch of yelling” in a nearby courtyard.

When he got closer, he saw a police officer pointing his gun toward a house that was on fire. Mr. Rochna said he saw a man who appeared to be in his 40s going into and then out of view in a second-floor window.

“Officers kept telling him to jump,” Mr. Rochna said.

Firefighters arrived on scene after a short time and placed a ladder under the window. The man climbed down and was immediately handcuffed by officers and taken from the area, Mr. Rochna said.

Mr. Rochna said he didn’t recognize the man. He said the

man looked “pretty rugged,” and his hair was dirty and messy when he climbed down the ladder.

A neighbor who asked not to be identified said she was taking a nap Monday when she woke up and saw flames in the basement of Mr. Pariser’s house.

She also saw police officers with their guns drawn, she said.

A few days before the fire, she heard officers knocking on Mr. Pariser’s door and ordering him to come outside, she said.

She met the man once or twice and he was polite, she said. She’d never had any problems with him as a neighbor.

Mr. Pariser does not have a criminal record.