East County
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Firefighters found the body of an elderly woman while battling a fire at her home east of El Cajon early Thursday, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said.
The burned body of Ann Mercurio, 79, was found lying on the floor in a hallway of her home on Shadow Knolls Drive, said Deputy Coroner Bob Engel. An autopsy will be performed today, he said.
A newspaper carrier on his route reported the fire about 3:43 a.m., a sheriff’s spokeswoman said. Firefighters from El Cajon, Santee and San Miguel contained the blaze, which started in the bedroom, in 25 minutes, she said.
Heat and smoke damage to the wood house and its contents was estimated at $75,000, the spokeswoman said. Sheriff’s arson detectives are investigating to determine the cause of the fire.
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