Five Dead in House Fires in Detroit Area [murder-suicide]

WATERFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - Flames broke out in two Detroit-area homes Sunday, killing five people, including three members of a family, authorities said.

Police officer Michael Waleskowki, 40, his wife and their 10-year-old son died in a blaze in Waterford Township, about 35 miles northwest of Detroit, Deputy Chief Ben McCaw said. The names of the wife and son were not immediately available.

Authorities were investigating the blaze Sunday and would not say whether it was suspicious.

The home was engulfed in flames when authorities arrived around 6:45 a.m. Three firefighters were injured, Sgt. Barry Hague said.

A fire erupted on Detroit's west side around the same time and killed two girls, ages 1 and 5, police said.

(RECASTS throughout to ADD name of one victim; corrects age of child in Detroit fire to 1, sted 8 months)

Update from Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/2004/metro/0408/31/c01-259129.htm

Tuesday, August 31, 2004

Policeman kills family, self

Suspended Waterford officer was under internal investigation on suspicion of theft

By Delores Patterson / The Detroit News

WATERFORD TOWNSHIP — At 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning, Waterford police officer Michael Waleskowski was called into the police station, relieved of his gun and badge and driven home, suspended on suspicion of theft.

In the next three hours, police say he shot and killed his wife, Lorna, and 9-year-old son, Hayden, then set his two-story house on fire and shot himself.

A suicide note was left in the van in the driveway, according to Waleskowski family friend Beth White.

“It said he could not live with the disgrace,” a tearful White said Monday. “Mike worshiped her and he adored Hayden. We just can’t believe he did this.”

White said the couple was happily married for about 15 years. She met Lorna in college and was the maid of honor in their wedding.

“The police called Mike in from the middle of his shift and took his gun and badge away and then drove him home,” she said.

Police Chief John Dean, reading from a prepared statement, said the deaths were ruled a murder-suicide. He said Waleskowski, 40, had been with the department for five years. He was being investigated both criminally and internally before he was suspended.

The police declined to elaborate because the investigation is ongoing.

The Police Department received a 911 call at 6:46 a.m. Sunday alerting them of a fire that had “fully engulfed” the home on Meadowview Drive by the time emergency crews arrived on the scene.

Ken Compton, who lives directly across from the Waleskowski house, tried to help rescue the family with his 26-year-old son and neighbors.

“There was nothing anyone could do. The front door was hot like a burner,” he said. One neighbor sprayed the house with a garden hose while another threw rocks at the family’s window to wake them.

“The whole neighborhood is hurt and in shock. You would have never known there were problems,” he said. “I’m surprised the Police Department is not more forthcoming with information.”

Compton said Waleskowski appeared to be a family man who did everything with Hayden. Just last week the father was teaching Hayden how to play golf, he said.

The Fire Department put out the fire in about 15 minutes and discovered the three bodies. Hayden was expected to start the fifth grade at Haviland Elementary School on Monday.

Officials would not say where the fire started, but there is a “high probability that there were flammable liquids involved,” Fire Chief Dennis Storrs said. “Our hearts go out to the family and friends of this family.”

Three firefighters were injured extinguishing the blaze. They were taken to an area hospital and treated for neck and back injuries and minor burns.

You can reach Delores Patterson at (248) 647-7225 or dpatterson@detnews.com.

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