UPDATE: Authorities identify victim in fire on Milwaukee's north side

UPDATE: Authorities identify victim in fire on Milwaukee’s north side
NEXT:

Updated: 3:32 p.m. March 22, 2018

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- 

Warning Graphic Details

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner has completed the autopsy of a 55-year-old woman in a wheelchair who died in a Wednesday morning fire. 

The woman, identified as Sharon Murdock, was found in a bedroom in her house. Her skin had been burned off and her head was barely attached to her head which according to the Medical Examiner is not uncommon in an intense fire. 

Murdock was known as a heavy smoker, but the exact cause of the fire is still unknown. Police told the ME that they had been called to the home numerous times for accidental fires. 

During the autopsy, the ME discovered a bullet in Murdock's skull which was from a 198 shooting. 

It took copies of her CT and MRI scans to make a positive ID of the body. 

There was nothing unusual about the fire and the autopsy reports the death was accidental. 

Two dogs were also found dead in the home. 

After multiple attempts, no family was found.

------

Updated: 8:37 a.m on March 22, 2018

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – Authorities have identified the victim as 55-year-old Sharon Murdock.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

------

Update: 5:00 p.m. on March 21, 2018

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – The investigation continues into a deadly house fire on Milwaukee’s north side.

Firefighters say a woman in a wheelchair was killed and more than a dozen people are displaced.

The fire happened at two houses near 20th Street and North Avenue just before 4:00 Wednesday morning.

Firefighters say the home where the woman died did not have working smoke detectors. Both homes affected are now boarded up and the fire chief says he wants to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

After putting out the flames, crews found an adult victim dead inside one of the homes. Four others were able to get out with one man going to the hospital. A total of 15 people, including children, are now living somewhere else for the time being.

Firefighters are now doing what they call a neighborhood smoke alarm sweep where they go door-to-door to check and replace smoke alarms so people can act quickly if a fire starts.

“Throughout the city, our goal in the next five to six years is to make sure that we knock on every door of every one to two family home to make sure that they have working smoke detectors,” said  Milwaukee Fire Chief Mark Rohlfing.

An autopsy on the woman is being done today. The Red Cross is helping the victims.

-----

Updated: 6:34 a.m. on March 21, 2018

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office says it is responding to the scene of the fire for the death of an adult.

An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday. Red Cross Wisconsin says it is providing care and resources to around 15 residents.

No other details are being released at this time.

------

Posted: 5:33 a.m. on March 21, 2018

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee Firefighters are on the scene of a fire that spread to two houses near N. 20th St. and W. North Ave.

Authorities say the call came in shortly before 4 a.m.

Fire officials have not released any information as to the start of the blaze and if anybody inside the home was injured. 

This is a developing story, stay with CBS 58 for updates.

Share this article: