HOWARD CREEK — A man who perished in a Feb. 20 residential fire in Howard Creek has been “presumptively” identified.
Over the weekend the Medical Examiner’s Office of the 14th Judicial Circuit closed its case, saying the identity of the victim is presumed to be Gerald Fegin Stewart.
Stewart, 89, and also known as Pat, was the resident of the home at 110 Foxchase Drive in Howard Creek that burned to the ground Feb. 20.
The residence was described by investigating officers as “just gone.”
The Medical Examiner’s Office is working with son of Stewart’s on possibly obtaining dental records to confirm the identity, but officially closed the case.
The Gulf County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers received a 911 call the evening of Feb. 20 reporting a structure fire on Foxchase.
The caller told dispatchers they believed someone was still inside the building.
Firefighters from the Howard Creek, White City and Wewahitchka Volunteer Fire Departments responded, as did sheriff’s deputies.
The residence was already engulfed in flames when emergency personnel arrived and firefighters needed an hour to extinguished all the flames in the structure was completely destroyed.
Stewart’s body was found inside.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office had yet to close their investigation of the fire as of press time.
Gulf County Sheriff Mike Harrison said early in the investigation that foul play did not appear to be a factor.