Investigators searched two houses on Hillcrest Street on Thursday afternoon as part of a probe into the nearby house fire Monday that left a family of seven dead.
Akron Police Lt. Rick Edwards cautioned Thursday that the Sherbondy Hill neighborhood searches don’t necessarily mean the homes — or the people who live there — are connected to the blaze. The search warrants are only part of an ongoing investigation where no one has been arrested or charged, he said.
Authorities haven’t yet said whether the fire was arson. On Wednesday, investigators said they hoped to have lab test results by the end of the week that might show whether accelerants were used in the deadly fire at 693 Fultz St.
Thursday’s searches on Hillcrest — which dead-ends into Fultz Street — aren’t the first in connection to the fire that killed Angela Boggs, 38; her partner, Dennis Huggins, 35; and children Cameron Huggins, 1; Alivia Huggins, 3; Kylle Huggins, 5; Daisia Huggins, 6; and Jered Boggs, 14.
Hours after the fire Monday, authorities also searched the Portage County home of Angela’s estranged husband, Dennis Boggs, police said.
Boggs was released from prison in 2013 after spending about a dozen years behind bars for attacking Angela in 2001, dousing her in kerosene and threatening to burn her alive.
Portage County sheriff’s deputies also jailed Dennis Boggs on Monday for a parole violation unrelated to the Akron fire that killed Angela and her family.
Edwards on Monday declined to say what investigators were looking for during the searches on Hillcrest Street or in Portage County.
Amanda Garrett can be reached at 330-996-3725 or agarrett@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @agarrettABJ .