Two dead in possible home invasion, arson in West Elsdon

Police think a Southwest Side home where two people were found dead Thursday afternoon may have been invaded and set on fire.

Carlos Herrera, 22, and 49-year-old Maria Herrera were found at the home in the 3600 block of West 55th Place about 2:50 p.m., police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. They both lived in the same block.

A source said the incident was initially reported as an explosion. Authorities later found no explosion had taken place, but that there had been a fire at the home.

Detectives are investigating the incident as a home invasion and think someone may have set the home ablaze before fleeing, police said. The victims’ specific injuries were not known early Friday.

Fire officials could not provide details on the incident Friday morning but said that the cause of the fire was still under investigation.