Identities Discovered in Fatal Malabar House Fire

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on June 20, 2017

The town of Malabar received a shock earlier in June when a fire consumed two-story house located at 855 Atz Road. The fire, which leveled the building, also took the lives of three individuals. Their bodies were discovered by members of the fire department after the flames were subdued and the destroyed building deemed enterable. Due to the violent nature of the house fire, the bodies were at first unidentifiable. However, after consulting dental records, the authorities are now certain that the three individuals who perished in the June 11th fire were the 39-year-old Chrissy Hughes, her sister, the 39-year-old Linda Woods, and Hughes’ son, the 9-year-old Sebastian Meachum.

According to the statement issued by the Malabar Sheriff’s Department spokesperson, Tod Goodyear, the fire was first noticed by neighbors who immediately called the fire department. When they arrived, the fire crew found the flames so high and intense that it was impossible to enter the building.

Now, with the identities of the deceased clear, the search is on for the missing husband of Chissy Hughes, Tony Hughes. Although he has not been seen since the fire, it is believed that he may, in fact, also have died on June 11th. According to Goodyear, the two-story home’s property also contained an 18-foot boat. In the aftermath of the fire, it became apparent that this boat was nowhere to be found. Investigators discovered this missing boat sailing in a circle several miles to the east of the Sebastian Inlet. The boat was empty when the investigators arrived, however there was enough blood present to cause suspicion that Tony Hughes took the boat and then killed himself.

Ultimately, this is only speculation. As of this moment, the authorities have not definitively linked the blood found in the boat to any specific person, and it is not clear why, if his plan was to kill himself, Tony Hughes would take himself so far out to sea.

Before any more concrete facts are released, the authorities will perform toxicology examinations on all of the bodies. In addition, the whereabouts of Tony Hughes or his body will also be priorities for the investigators.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.