Third death in Back of the Yards fire ruled homicide

Three deaths in an August arson fire at a home in the South Side Back of the Yards neighborhood have been ruled homicides.

Two people were found dead after the fire in the 5400 block of South Laflin was extinguished about 2 a.m. Aug. 27, Chicago Fire Department officials said at the time. They were identified as 61-year-old Tommie Darling and 55-year-old Dorise Anderson, who both lived in the home.

Autopsy results for Anderson were initially pending, but later found she died from thermal injuries and inhalation of products due to a house fire, the Cook County medical examiner’s office confirmed Saturday. Her death was ruled a homicide. A previous autopsy found the same causes of death for Tommie Darling, and his death was also ruled a homicide.

A third person who also lived at the home, 58-year-old Danny Darling, was pronounced dead at 11:15 a.m. Oct. 8 at Stroger Hospital, according to the medical examiner’s office. An autopsy found he died of complications from thermal injuries in a house fire, and his death was ruled a homicide.

Investigators with CPD’s Bomb and Arson Unit determined someone intentionally started the blaze, and have classified the case as a homicide investigation, police said. No one has been charged.