Burglary suspect sought for questioning in fatal fire

A burglary suspect is wanted for questioning in connection with a fatal fire over the weekend.

Raeqwan Jahmell Hancock, 21, is wanted on a warrant from an April 6 burglary on Tollgate Road in Violet Township.

The burglary victims told Fairfield County deputy sheriffs that Hancock was discussing aliens and being invisible and told them people were after him. He was wearing the male homeowner’s clothes, said Fairfield County Chief Deputy Alex Lape.

The house fire, which resulted in the death of 60-year-old John LeTourneau, happened two days later and less than a mile away in the 6200 block of BlacklickEastern Road just after 4 a.m. Sunday.

“We have physical evidence that connects him to that location,” said Lape, who said he was unable to divulge details.

An alert issued by the sheriff’s office noted that Hancock is “proficient in martial arts, and we have reason to believe the suspect is possibly armed and dangerous, so use caution if located.”

Last fall, Hancock was convicted of theft, obstructing official business and resisting arrest, according to Franklin County Municipal Court records.

It’s unclear why Hancock was in the Violet Township area over the weekend. He used to stay with a foster family in Violet Township, Lape said. Investigators think that Hancock might be in the Pickerington, Reynoldsburg or Etna areas.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call the State Fire Marshal’s tip line at 800-589-2728 or the sheriff’s office at 740-652-7911.