Coroner, police ID body found in Middletown house fire

A woman found dead after a fire early Saturday morning on Jacoby Avenue has been identified as Tiffany Hoskins, according to Middletown police and the Butler County Coroner's Office.

The fire that heavily damaged the second floor of the vacant house in the 1500 block has also been classified as incendiary and is being investigated as an arson fire.

Hoskins was found near the stairwell on the second floor of the house and in the area where the fire was burning.

The coroner’s office said Tuesday that the 36-year-old woman’s cause of death is pending.

Anyone with information on the fire is asked to contact Middletown police at 513-425-7737.

On Monday this news outlet first reported a police report listed the fire cause as arson, but at that time Middletown Fire Chief Paul Lolli said the cause was still under investigation.

A fire investigation team, comprised of both police officers and firefighters, are continuing to investigate, Lolli told the Journal-News.

Firefighters were called to the house about 4:20 a.m. and found heavy fire coming from the second floor.

“They were getting information that it was a vacant house,” Lolli said. It took firefighters about 10 minutes to knock the fire down.

Fire officials were told the owner of the house had died about a month ago.

Hoskins was known to police and had multiple arrests dating back to 2001 for drug charges. In August, Hoskins was arrested for loitering to engage in prostitution. She was scheduled to be back in Middletown Municipal Court on Nov. 14 for a pre-trial hearing on that charge.

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