PILSEN — The man who was killed in one of six devastating fires in Pilsen in September died of homicide by arson, the Cook County medical examiner's office said this week.
The medical examiner's office released their report on Venancio Veracruz Benitez's death this week. The cause of death was carbon monoxide toxicity due to inhalation of products of combustion due to garage fire and the manner of death was ruled a homicide, according to the office's investigation.
A hardworking man who came from Mexico to the U.S. to support his family in Mexico, 59-year-old Veracruz was also known as Guadalupe Salgado. Veracruz was living in the converted garage before his death, a source confirmed.
At about 2:45 a.m. Sept. 16, firefighters were called to an alley near 2151 W. 21st St., where responders found a fire. Veracruz was later pronounced dead at the scene at about 3:34 a.m., according to the medical examiner's office.
The medical examiner's office's in-depth investigation was consistent with a preliminary investigation that determined Veracruz likely died of smoke inhalation.
"There were no obvious signs of trauma, like bullet holes," Larry Langford, Chicago Fire Department spokesman, said in September.
Around 3 a.m. Sept. 16, nearly 100 firefighters and police responded to calls of separate fires around the Pilsen and Heart of Chicago neighborhoods. The blazes left Veracruz dead and 25 people displaced in Pilsen and Heart of Chicago. Officials believe the fires were set intentionally because of the fire pattern, proximity and times.
Police now say that six fires occurred between 2:45 a.m. and 3:20 a.m. Sept. 16. Earlier, police indicated that seven arsons occurred in that timeframe.
In October, detectives released surveillance video, appearing to show a man on the bike near the scenes, in hopes of finding the person responsible for the arsons, but no arrests have been made to date.
Chicago Police Sgt. Ed Kulbida (12th) said investigators believe one suspect, likely someone with a mental illness who "likes to play with fire," acted alone to set the six fires blocks apart in Pilsen and Heart of Chicago.
Neighbors who may have information about the suspicious arsons are asked to call investigating detectives at 312-746-7618.
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