Victim identified in fatal Charlotte County house fire

Published: Updated:
Photo via viewer Greg Butler.

PUUNTA GORDA, Fla. — Authorities identified 19-year-old Ronni G. Bell as the person who died in a Nov. 28 house fire in an isolated area east of I-75, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office said.

Her father, 67-year-old Ronald Bell, survived the blaze that ravaged his house at 32162 Oil Well Road but suffered burns and smoke inhalation.

An investigation into Ronni Bell’s death continues. The cause of the fire remains unknown, but authorities don’t believe it was suspicious.

Ronni Bell’s body was severely burned, and authorities weren’t immediately able to verify that it was her.

Ronald Bell said he called 911 and told a dispatcher that someone could be trapped inside. The house is at the end of a long dirt path, and emergency crews had a difficult time getting there.

The home isn’t a total loss but sustained extensive damage, sheriff’s office spokesperson Skip Conroy said.

A GoFundMe page was created to raise money for the family.

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