San Diego

5 Bodies Found in Suspicious House Fire in Temecula

Five bodies were found as crews sifted through a house fire in Temecula that burned early Monday morning, officials said.

The fire started just before 6 a.m. Monday in the 41000 block of Cruz Way in an unincorporated area of Temecula.

As crews were extinguishing the fire, they found the bodies of five adults inside, according to a news release from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Family members told NBC LA that the home was a 24-hour home care business for adults who have disabilities.

Family members identified one of the people killed as 50-year-old James Jennex, one of the owners of the business. The ages and names of the others found dead have not been released.

The fire has been ruled suspicious in nature and detectives with the sheriff’s central homicide unit are investigating.

Neighbor Jonathan Villalobos said he and another neighbor tried desperately to save the victims by breaking windows of the home, but the fire ravaged the property so quickly.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Riverside Sheriff’s Investigator Mullins at 951-955-2777.

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