Death in burning home attributed to suicide

FAIRFIELD – The State Fire Marshal’s Office reported Monday that a man whose body was found in a burned house last Friday committed suicide after he set his home on fire.

Autopsy results concluded that the man died of a gunshot wound to the head. The state medical examiner’s office is waiting for DNA testing results to establish the identity of the man, but fire investigators say they believe the victim is Steven Edwards, 55, who lived in the house.

His body was found on a rear porch where investigators say the fire started from a flammable liquid. The body was found near five guns, one of which Edwards apparently used to shoot himself. The fire was discovered Friday afternoon and a family dog was rescued from the house by a passer-by.