THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 2, 1997 TAG: 9702020121
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 36 lines
Police are investigating the death of a man whose body was discovered by a maid Saturday in a smoke-filled, fire-damaged motel room.
``We can say at this time: Fire and smoke did not cause the subject's death,'' said Dave Hughes, a police spokesman. ``We're handling it as a death under suspicious circumstances.''
The man was identified as William Kelly Martin, 32, of Norfolk. He had no known address but was believed to have frequented the Campostella area.
Investigators would not comment on a suspected cause of death, but Hughes said they did find evidence that made them certain the man did not die accidentally.
The body was sent to the State Medical Examiner's office in Norfolk for an examination to determine the cause of death.
The body was found about 11:30 a.m. in room 340 of the Motel 6 in the 700 block of Woodlake Drive.
Police said a maid had gone to the room on routine cleaning rounds. When she opened the door, she was met with heavy smoke and discovered a man's body. She then went for help.
Police and firefighters were called to the scene, but the blaze had apparently extinguished itself before the maid opened the door.
Hughes said it's unclear how long the man had been dead or what caused the fire. Police also lack any motive or witnesses.
``Nobody heard or saw anything that we know of,'' he said.
Anyone with information, including anyone who had seen Martin after 5 p.m. Friday, is asked to call Crime Line at 487-1234. ILLUSTRATION: Map