HARTFORD — The State Fire Marshal’s Office said a local man set his house on fire and then hanged himself Thursday afternoon.
The State Medical Examiner’s Office said Daniel Stasulis, 57, committed suicide after he poured a flammable liquid throughout his house and set it ablaze.
Stasulis’ body was recovered outside 828 Church St. after the fire was doused at a small ranch-style house near the Canton town line, said Maine Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland.
After the fire started, Stasulis used a rope to hang himself from an outside deck, officials said. Investigators said they found no note to explain his actions.
Two years ago, in late July 2012, Stasulis led police on a low-speed chase through Falmouth, Yarmouth and North Yarmouth in his pickup truck, McCausland said.
Fire departments from at least five towns responded to the fire. A team of three investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office searched through the rubble as the cause was being investigated.
The fire was discovered by a passer-by and the house was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.
At the time of the police chase in 2012, Stasulis was living in California, according to news accounts. He was ultimately charged with reckless conduct, eluding police and other charges. It was not immediately clear how the case was resolved in court.
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- Fire fighters from five different towns responded to a fully-involved structure fire Thursday afternoon at 828 Church Street that claimed the life of a man, said Steve McCausland of the Maine Department of Public Safety. The man has not been identified yet.
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- A man set fire to his house at 828 Church St. in Hartford on Thursday, then killed himself, said Stephen McCausland of the Maine Department of Public Safety.
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