Red Bank house fire investigated as a suicide

RED BANK, Tenn. (WDEF) – Red Bank police chief says the death of a man in a house fire is being investigated as a suicide.

Chief Tim Christol says “After a thorough examination of all available evidence and review of the preliminary autopsy results from the Hamilton County Medical Examiner’s Office, we have determined that this is being investigated as a suicide, arson.”

The victim was not the homeowner, but a renter who had lived there a couple of years.

He is identified as 49 year old Darrel Eric Chapman.

The homeowner says he woke to the sounds of popping around midnight and discovered smoke and flames coming from the basement.

No one else in the home was injured.