Woman arrested after man dies in camper fire at Sarasota County mobile home park: SCSO

Woman arrested for deadly camper trailer fire

A woman has been arrested after a camper trailer fire at a mobile home park early Tuesday left a man dead, according to Sarasota County deputies. Kimberly Kuizon reports.

NOKOMIS, Fla. - A woman has been arrested after a camper trailer fire at a mobile home park early Tuesday left a man dead, according to Sarasota County deputies.

Juanita Pendell, 44, was charged with homicide and first-degree arson, and she has been taken to the Sarasota County Jail.

Courtesy: Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office says crews responded shortly after 1 a.m. Tuesday to the Palm & Pines Mobile Home & RV Park off Tamiami Trail in Nokomis.

At least one person died after a mobile home fire in Nokomis early Tuesday.

An evidence marker sat on top of the hood of a red truck, outside of lot 44.

"I saw the squad cars and the fire truck," said resident Floyd Ellenbecker.

Some saw the flames of the fire around 1:10 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

Ellenbecker woke up to investigators working to determine what happened.

What they're saying:

"That’s highly unusual to have a fire. That’s something that you don’t want in a mobile home park, they’re too flammable," he told FOX 13.

 Ellenbecker said the fire happened in an area of the park that had attention before.

"They were just partying up there, and you get used to that. Especially if it’s the same area," he said.

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Deputies said the victim was found unconscious inside the camper trailer. CPR was attempted, but the man was pronounced dead.

Courtesy: Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.

"There are some witnesses. I know the criminal investigation section that are investigating the incident have obtained the witnesses and statements from witnesses," said Matt Binkley with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.

What's next:

Binkley said the fire marshal and medical examiner are continuing their investigation, as well as detectives.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Section at 941-861-4900 or Crime Stoppers at 941-366-TIPS (8477).

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