SALT LAKE CITY — A fire in a garage where a homicide occurred earlier this year does not appear to be intentional or retaliatory, fire officials say.
Responding fire crews Monday found the detached garage at 1267 W. 900 South fully engulfed with flames, which also threatened the nearby home, Salt Lake Fire Capt. Mark Bednarik said.
The fire was reported about 5 a.m., as well as possible gunshots that turned out to be popping noises from a damaged power line, Bednarik said.
The fire does not appear to be suspicious. An accelerant-sniffing dog did not indicate there was evidence of accelerant at the scene, and no other indications the fire was suspicious.
Investigators believe the damaged power line or a candle memorial that is often set up in front of the garage may have contributed to the fire, Bednarik said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Michael Ramirez, 27, was found dead in the garage, the victim of an apparent assault, on April 5. Roberto "Robert" Carlos Munoz, 29, was later arrested and charged with aggravated murder and aggravated robbery in Ramirez's death.
Investigators say Munoz beat Ramirez with a large Taser or flashlight tool when he refused to loan him any money, then took the estimated $1,400 Ramirez was carrying in his wallet at the time.
A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for Oct. 20.
Ramirez's mother said the two had known each other since childhood. She last saw her son when he left the house with Munoz.
Both the house and an apartment in the garage are unoccupied, Bednarik said. The owners of the property spoke to fire crews at the scene, reporting that they have received no threats to the property since shortly after the homicide in April.
Crews extinguished the blaze before it spread to the home, but the garage and an attached apartment are a total loss, Bednarik said. An estimate of the damages was not immediately released.
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