TALLADEGA COUNTY — A man died in a house fire late Thursday night at a residence on Rendalia Motorway.Coroner Jerry Castleberry said Oscar Lee McKenzie, 64, died in the fire at the residence in the 1400 block of Rendalia Motorway in East Talladega County. Castleberry said he ordered an autopsy for the body to determine the cause of death.
Talladega County Sheriff’s Department chief investigator Capt. Mike Hubbard said authorities do not suspect foul play in the fire but said a state fire marshal was working the scene Friday.
Two others in the home at the time were able to escape, but the fire became too intense for them to rescue McKenzie, Hubbard said. The fire occurred between 9:45 and 10:15 p.m. Thursday.
The Sheriff’s Department also arrested two Harpersville men Friday afternoon on a shooting into an occupied dwelling charge that occurred between 11 and 11:10 a.m. Thursday at a residence on Higgins Road outside Sylacauga.
Hubbard said the residence was hit multiple times with bullets fired from a handgun. A storm door and windows were reported damaged.
Investigator Tony Haynes said Jason Holder, 18, of Crestwell Road, Harpersville, and Christopher Cohill, 19, of U.S. 280, Harpersville, were both arrested on the charge.
Haynes said authorities were able to develop a witness who saw what happened and also got phone records to tie the suspects with making contact to the Higgins Road residence. Haynes said the shooting may have come about due to a verbal dispute among the men and a juvenile who lived at the home.
Haynes said both men received a bond of $7,500.
A residence in the 400 block of Priebes Mill Road reported the theft of two iron gates valued at $2,000, a 14-foot dual axle horse trailer valued at $2,500, an 18-foot dual axle trailer valued at $650, a pickup truck bed trailer valued at $50, a single axle boat trailer valued at $600 and an antique sewing machine value unknown.
Hubbard said some of the items were found at Munford Recycling and authorities were working with the business to locate a suspect or suspects.
