OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – A death investigation sparked by a house fire is puzzling an Overland Park neighborhood. Firefighters found a body inside a garage. They cannot yet explain what happened.
"We’re all real close around here and I’m sure everybody’s going to be real upset that this has happened," said Chet Miller, a neighbor.
Around 4:00 p.m. Friday, firefighters carried hoses into the garage at 9504 W. 115
th street to extinguish flames. When the smoke cleared, they noticed a body inside a car.
Overland Park Fire Department officials identified the victim as 67 year old Derl S. Treff, the owner of the home. Their investigation in ongoing, but at this time nothing suspicious has been noted, according to department reports.
"He just hadn’t been himself lately," said Chet Miller, a neighbor. Miller considers his neighbor a friend. Miller said the man seemed depressed since retiring last year. However, Miller does not think suicide is a possibility.
"I think that he was improving daily," Miller said. "That’s why I really think that this is something that had to do with the car and the gasoline."
He told detectives his neighbor was doing yard work Thursday night and may have stored gasoline improperly. However, police and fire investigators said the fire’s cause is unknown.
So, while they continue digging for clues, neighbors mourn.
"I’m just going to miss him," Miller said.
