Man found dead in Fitchburg fire owed money, was going to lose condo
The body of Raymond L. Jerome, 59, was found near two improvised explosive devices, investigators said.
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A man found dead following a Fitchburg fire earlier this week owed condominium fees and was slated to lose his unit days after the blaze.
The body of Raymond L. Jerome, 59, was discovered in a third-floor apartment near two, detonated improvised explosive devices at 7 Beekman St., according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr.’s office.
Court records show Jerome, one of the building’s first occupants who owned his condominium since 1987, had owed $5,221 in unpaid fees by early 2016, The Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports.
The trustees of the Barley Nolan Condominium Trust had filed a lawsuit against Jerome in 2015 in an effort to recoup the missed payments, according to the newspaper.
Jerome was ordered to pay $856, with subsequent monthly installments of $214, the Gazette reports. However, the condominium was ordered to be sold at public auction to cover a lien on the unit stemming from the lawsuit when Jerome did not pay off the debt, the newspaper said.
The auction was slated for Wednesday.
Sunday’s fire broke out around 5:42 p.m. and displaced about 50 people from their homes, according to officials.
Early said Monday that investigators were still probing the cause of the fire, but located two explosive devices in the apartment where Jerome’s body was found. Officials also found propane tanks, he said.
Witnesses reported multiple explosions during the incident, according to Early.
