CLEARWATER, Fla. — Crews responded to a house fire in Clearwater early Wednesday morning.
- Extensive damage overnight after Clearwater house fire
- Roof collapsed; no injuries reported
- Home was also site of 2018 death investigation
According to Clearwater Fire Rescue, firefighters responded to a home at 1506 Meadow Dale Drive just after 3:30 a.m.
When firefighters arrived, the roof of the home was engulfed in flames. The roof later collapsed.
Officials said there was no one in the home and there were no injuries.
Crews were able to get the flames under control in about 30 minutes. The home sustained extensive damage. About two dozen firefighters remained on scene to mop up hot spots early Wednesday.
The fire marks a second incident at the home in recent years.
In November 2018, a death investigation took place at the same home. Authorities confirmed 71-year-old Daniel Gillespie Jr. was found dead inside the home from unnatural causes.
According to partner newspaper the Tampa Bay Times, there have been various issues and court battles among family members. Gillespie Jr. filed to evict his daughter from this home shortly before he was killed.
The Gillespies still own the home, according to the Pinellas County Property Appraiser's office.
Siblings battle over house's fate
On the same day the house burned down, its current resident, Shannon Gillespie, 45, was in court for an emergency hearing to get her out. Shannon is the daughter that Daniel Gillespie tried to evict from the house shortly before his death.
Shannon's siblings previously received a court order to sell the house. The closing was, in fact, scheduled for Friday.
During today's hearing, Daniel Kortenhaus, an attorney for Shannon's siblings, said they believe Shannon started the fire.
“The house at 1506 Meadow Dale Drive was burned to the ground last night and speculation on our side, of course, is that the defendant may or was probably culpable,” said Kortenhaus.
Today's hearing marked the latest episode in a 16-month court battle over the house between Shannon and her relatives. The four Gillespie children inherited the home following their father's death.
The proceeding also featured attorneys showing photos of intentional damage done to the home prior to the fire that they allege was done by Shannon.
When questioned directly, Shannon denied the allegation.
However, one of her brothers said during the hearing that Shannon had warned him she'd set the home on fire.
"She said that she would rather burn the house down then us get our part of the inheritance," said Tony Gillespie.
Shannon's attorney, meanwhile, maintained her client's innocence.
"There hasn’t been any evidence and there’s no evidence at this point to suggest that my client set the fire, caused the fire and she hasn’t done anything intentional to destroy anything," said attorney Rita Briles.
However, the judge did eventually rule that Shannon did intentionally damage the property before the fire, and she must now stay away from what's left of the house.
According to Pinellas County jail records, Shannon has been arrested eight times on a variety of charges since 2006.
The fire remains under investigation.