Sheriff's Office investigates deadly house fire in Swisher

UPDATE: The Johnson County Sheriff's office and State Fire Marshall have determined the house fire that left one person dead Monday morning was not suspicious.

According to a press release, the Sheriff's department received a call about a house fire at 1663 Falcon Ave NW in Swisher from a witness. The release said the witness entered the house to check on the damage and found a deceased person inside. The witness also said there appeared to have been a fire.

Officials with the State Fire Marshall's office confirmed Tuesday that a couch in the home caught fire, but the fire extinguished itself.

The Johnson County Sheriff's department has also identified the victim as 71-year-old Darly Dosch, who was living at the home. Officials said he was last seen at 6 p.m. on June 24 and was discovered by the witness at 11 a.m. on Monday. Though the cause and time of Dosch's death remains unknown, and autopsy will be performed by the State Medical Examiner's Office alongside the Johnson County Medical examiner.

Officials said it is still unclear when the fire occurred.

As of Monday afternoon, Marlene Rick, an owner of the property, said it was unclear exactly what had started the fire.

“We really don't know until we talk to to coroner,” Rick said. “Apparently there was a smoldering fire, not a big fire, but just something in the couch or something.”

The incident is currently under investigation by the Johnson County Sheriff's Department, State Fire Marshall's Office, and the Johnson County medical examiner.

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