A woman was killed in a fire at her northwest Indiana home, officials said.
Authorities did not confirm a cause of the blaze, but remained on the scene of the fire in the 3400 block of Johnson Street in Gary, Indiana, for hours on Thursday, combing through evidence at the home located at the end of the block.
The Lake County Coroner confirmed that they were dispatched to the house at around 4:30 a.m. for a fatal fire and found a woman at the home who was pronounced dead an hour later.
The coroner's office did not release further details, including her age or identity, but a family friend said the woman was 79-year-old Barbara Walker.
Walker was a devoted member of Pilgrim Baptist Church on 21st Street in Gary, according to her friend Victory Emery.
"She was such a beautiful person, such a beautiful person," Emery said, adding, "I cant believe it. It's just hard to believe."
Gary police and fire officials have not confirmed any information or released details on the fire. It was not clear if anyone was taken into custody in connection with the blaze, or if charges would be filed.
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The incident remained under investigation and the Lake County Coroner was conducting an autopsy Thursday.
