A "person of interest" has been identified in a fatal fire at a Whitwell, Tenn., pawn shop earlier this week, but authorities remained tight-lipped Friday on how the person might be connected to the incident.
The fire Tuesday afternoon at Valley Pawn Broker shop on state Highway 28 claimed the life of 72-year-old Jerry Don Ridge. Ridge's body was found in the back of the building, which was damaged mostly by smoke, according to officials. The manner of death was homicide, authorities said.
Sheriff Ronnie "Bo" Burnett said Friday that evidence collected at the shop has raised suspicions toward one person, but he said it could be next week before an analysis is completed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab.
No names will be released at least until then, he said.
Investigators identified the person of interest from evidence inside the building, Burnett said.
"We got a name and did some interviews with some people. But we can't release the name right now. It's still a pretty active investigation."
The Ridge family already sustained a blow earlier this spring with the disappearance of Wesley Ridge, Jerry Ridge's nephew, Burnett said.
Wesley Ridge, 39, went last seen on March 8 and was reported missing by the Ridge family on March 10. A $15,000 reward is being offered for information leading to his whereabouts.
There is no known connection between the two investigations, Burnett said.
Authorities on Tuesday almost immediately described circumstances surrounding the fire as "suspicious" and called in the TBI's Mobile Crime Unit to investigate.
The fire was reported by a passerby around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Firefighters found the doors locked and had to break in to the building to extinguish the fire.
The pawn shop is about a half mile south of Whitwell City Hall. When the fire broke out, city officials, possibly including some firefighters, were holding a meeting nearby and were able to respond quickly to the fire, Burnett said.
Ridge owned Valley Pawn Broker for 17 years and was a deacon at the First Baptist Church, according to his obituary. The family will receive friends at the church today from 2-8 p.m. CDT. Ridge will be buried Sunday.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or on Twitter twitter.com/BenBenton or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ben.benton1 or 423-757-6569.