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Third Fatal Fire Victim Identified in Steubenville

STEUBENVILLE — The investigation into the triple-fatal fire at 602 Linden Ave. in Steubenville early Sunday continues, and the third victim has been identified.

The county coroner’s office confirmed the third victim is Debra Freeman, 46. Her two children, Amber Shope, 6, and Terry Richardson Jr., 10, also died in the fire.

The city fire department arrived on scene around 3 a.m. on Sunday to find the house engulfed in flames. A man, identified as Terry Richardson Sr., 56, the father of the two children, had escaped the house. Richardson was taken to Trinity Medical Center West with injuries from the fire and later was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital.

Fire Chief Carlo Capaldi said a state fire marshal investigator interviewed Richardson, who said he woke up and the room was on fire.

Capaldi said the state fire marshal’s office is conducting tests on samples taken from the home to rule out arson.

He said the cause of the fire may never be determined because of the extent of the fire damage to the home.

Capaldi said two houses at 562 and 604 Linden Ave. sustained fire damage.

Shope attended East Garfield Elementary School, while Terry Richardson Jr. was a student at Harding Middle School.

Melinda Young, city schools superintendent, said grief counselors will be at the schools for the rest of the week for pupils and staff.

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