Crime & Safety
Fatal Emmaus Fire: Police Say Investigation Complete, Cause of Fire Unknown
Six months after four people were killed in an apartment fire in Emmaus, investigators announce that their work is finished and the fire's cause is undetermined.
The cause of a devastating St. Patrick's Day fire that killed four people living in an apartment building in Emmaus remains undetermined, the Emmaus Police Department said in a release Wednesday.
The investigation, which is now complete, determined that the fire appears to have originated on the 3rd floor rear bedroom and attic space area located immediately above, according to the release. Previously, police had said that the cause of the fire was not suspicious.
Killed in the fire at 36-38 S. Fifth St. were:
- Melissa Twining, 48, and her son, Montana Twining, 16, who lived on the building's third floor. Montana was an Emmaus High School student.
- David Jenkins, Jr., 65, of 16 S. 10th St., Emmaus.
- Lena Marie Adamo, 56, who lived on the second floor.Â
The building, which has been torn down, was owned by Michael and Loretta Boyko of Macungie. It was a former funeral home that was divided into apartments.
The investigation was conducted by Emmaus police, the coroner's office, the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office, the Pennsylvania state police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Anyone who may have additional information about this fire is asked to contact the Emmaus Police Department at 610-967-3113.
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