Domestic Disturbance Ends With Suspicious Fire

By Sam Poe
Wednesday, July 31, 2013 | 7:07 AM
https://hbtv.us/news/?story_id=1679

There was a fire at the Richard Allen Cummings and Bethany Gilbert residence at 2271 County Highway 19, also known as Thornhill Road, around 7:00 p.m. Tuesday evening. The home was a 1984 double wide trailer located in a wooded area just off the road that could only be accessed using a walking trail. The residents were home at the time of the fire but were able to escape. The Haleyville Fire Department, Brilliant Fire Department, Brilliant Police Department, and Marion County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene. 

The initial call to the residence was for a domestic violence situation. However, when the fire started, only one party of the domestic situation was located on the property. It was unclear if the female was still inside the home or if she had fled before or during the fire. Once the fire was extinguished, the Haleyville Fire Department completed a recovery exercise, and no one was found inside the remains of the home. The female subject has not been located, but the Marion County Sheriff's Department is searching for her. 

The home was completely destroyed, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Alabama Fire Marshall's Office.