UPDATE TO DEATH INVESTIGATION IN LAKELAND:
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a death investigation in Lakeland today, related to a house fire.
The PCSO ECC received a call at 1:22 a.m. this morning, Wednesday, October 11, 2017, about a fire at 7425 Green Road in Lakeland.
The following six residents of the home were able to flee from the home with no injuries:
70-year-old Emma McLaughlin
39-year-old Carolyn Whittle, Emma’s daughter
14-year-old Dailyn Whittle, Carolyn’s daughter
2-year-old Ivy Pearson, Carolyn’s daughter
22-year-old Tyler McLaughlin, Carolyn’s son
20-year-old Marlana Bargarus, Tyler’s girlfriend
Found deceased inside the home were three dogs, and a man who is believed to be 78-year-old Edward McLaughlin, Emma’s husband and Carolyn’s father. He was located in the back bedroom.
An autopsy will be conducted this week to determine Edward’s exact cause of death.
