(Hawley, MN) -- We're learning more about a fire in Clay County that led to a body being found last month.
Clay County Sheriff Mark Empting says due to the condition of the body located in the fire, the Medical Examiner was not able to identify the remains using DNA samples. The Medical Examiner is identifying the remains by circumstance as Terry Steinweg, a 76-year-old male from rural Hawley. The cause of death was ruled, soot and smoking inhalation.
Crews initially responded March 12th to the structure fire at 26627 43rd avenue north on reports of black smoke and flames shooting from the building. Steinweg's body was found after crews from multiple departments put the blaze out and searched through the debris.
Identification by circumstance means the Medical Examiner took the totality of the entire investigation based on information provided to them by the Sheriff’s Office and concluded that Steinweg would have been the only person in the residence at the time of the fire.
The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office does not have a cause of the fire due to the total destruction of the residence.