Death of Woman Found in Hamden Fire Investigated as Homicide

Hamden police have identified the 45-year-old woman killed in a fatal house fire early Saturday morning and said her death is being investigated as a homicide.

Firefighters were called to 28 Lilac Avenue and firefighters about 1:30 a.m. The call originally came in as a fire on the porch and in the attic.

Resident Jennifer Antonier, 45, was found dead in the fire on the second floor. Investigators are looking into the nature of the fire and whether the incident may have been criminal. They are treating the death as a homicide.

Police also said a car registered to the victim was found burned in New Haven in the early morning hours. New Haven police are investigating that incident as arson, and Hamden police are investigating its connection to the fire on Lilac Avenue.

A neighbor who lives across the street on Lilac Avenue said she woke up to a popping sound when power lines in front of the house caught fire. She described seeing flames pour out of the front of the home.

The front porch was scorched and there was significant damage around the second-floor window. The amount of damage inside the home is unknown.

"You didn't know what to think. It scared me because you never see anything like that over here," said another neighbor, Ulysses Casteel.

Firefighters were on scene for about two hours and left when a Hamden police crime scene unit arrived and took over the investigation. State police and the state fire marshal are assisting with the investigation.

The electric company also responded because of a live wire that fell near the scene.

The Hamden Police Department Major Crimes Division is overseeing the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 203-230-4040.
 

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