Second death in Back of the Yards fire ruled homicide

Two 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, who lived in the home, and 55-year-old Doris Anderson, whose home address was unknown.

Autopsy results for Tommie Darling were initially pending, but later found he died of thermal injuries and inhalation of products of combustion due to a house fire. His death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner’s office. Anderson’s cause and manner of death were not released Monday afternoon.

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 Cook County 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.