2 people killed, another hurt in Fostoria arson

3 suspects being held; victims said to be hearing-impaired

5/26/2014
BY MIKE SIGOV
BLADE STAFF WRITER
  • n3fire

    Family and friends of Danny Marker begin to board up his home at 614 Poplar St. in Fostoria after he was killed in a fire early Monday. Mr. Marker and a woman died, and another was burned in the fire.

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  • The home at 614 Poplar St., Fostoria burns early Monday. The fire, which was reported at 3:05 a.m., is under investigation by the state fire marshal’s office.
    The home at 614 Poplar St., Fostoria burns early Monday. The fire, which was reported at 3:05 a.m., is under investigation by the state fire marshal’s office.

    FOSTORIA — A man and a woman were killed and another woman was injured in a house fire ruled an arson early Monday in the northwest Ohio community of Fostoria, authorities said.

    Three people were charged in connection with the fire, which investigators said was started at the front of the house.

    Two of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene, Fostoria fire Capt. James Walters said.

    Shane Marker talks about his brother, Danny Marker, one of two people who died in a fire early Monday in Fostorial
    Shane Marker talks about his brother, Danny Marker, one of two people who died in a fire early Monday in Fostorial

    The third was flown to ProMedica Toledo Hospital with burns; her condition has not been released.

    One of the deceased was identified as Danny Marker, 48, a resident of the Fostoria house consumed by the flames.

    That identification was made to The Blade by Danny’s brother, Shane Marker, 40, of Fostoria.

    He said Danny Marker was hearing-impaired and partially blind.

    The other two victims were visiting from the Ohio School for the Deaf in Columbus, according to Shane Marker.

    Both are women about the same age as his brother and hearing-impaired, he said. He did not know their names.

    Family and friends of Danny Marker begin to board up his home at 614 Poplar St. in Fostoria after he was killed in a fire early Monday. Mr. Marker and a woman died, and another was burned in the fire.
    Family and friends of Danny Marker begin to board up his home at 614 Poplar St. in Fostoria after he was killed in a fire early Monday. Mr. Marker and a woman died, and another was burned in the fire.

    Fostoria police said in a news release they were not identifying the victims until their families were notified and the county coroner’s office had confirmed identities.

    The fire at 614 S. Poplar St. was reported at 3:05 a.m.

    Firefighters brought the blaze under control by 8:30 a.m., according to Captain Walters.

    Held in the Fostoria jail Monday night were Shey Weiker, 31, of 151 Taft Blvd., Fostoria, charged with four counts aggravated arson, two counts aggravated murder, and one count each of attempted aggravated murder and tampering with evidence; Charles Schaeffer, 44, of the Taft address, charged with four counts complicity to commit aggravated arson, two counts complicity to commit aggravated murder, and one count complicity to commit attempted aggravated murder, and Timothy Hall, 20, of 126 Findlay St., Fostoria, charged with four counts of complicity to commit aggravated arson, two counts complicity to commit aggravated murder, and one count each of complicity to commit attempted aggravated murder and complicity to tampering with evidence.

    Investigators ruled the fire at 614 S. Poplar St. an arson; the fire started at the front of the house, police said. No motive was given.

    An unidentified firefighter suffered minor injuries while inside the residence when he fell through a flight of stairs. He was treated and returned to work Monday, officials said.


    Shane Marker said his brother telephoned their mother at 2:59 a.m. and told her he “smelled smoke.”

    His mother then went by the house, saw smoke coming from it, and went to get Shane Marker, who lives nearby.

    When the two arrived, the front of the house and the roof “were all engulfed in flames,” Shane Marker said.

    He said he was still shaken by a recent assault on his brother, one of several Danny Marker endured.

    The beating was extensive enough to require Danny Marker to have nose surgery.

    Shane Marker also said his brother was a victim of multiple break-ins.

    “Danny was funny,” Shane Marker said. “And he’d help anyone at the drop of a dime. Neighbors came to me and talked about how nice he was. He helped them with anything.”

    The fire was under investigation by the state fire marshal’s office.

    Fostoria, in Hancock, Seneca, Wood counties, is about 35 miles southeast of Toledo.

    Contact Mike Sigov at: sigov@theblade.com, 419-724-6089, or on Twitter @mikesigovblade.

     

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