On September 7, 2016, at approximately 10:45PM, Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the 30300 block of North Oak Grove Avenue, Unincorporated Libertyville, for a structure fire at a residence. When sheriff’s deputies arrived, they observed heavy smoke and fire inside the residence. Sheriff’s deputies learned Kenneth F. Deyo, 76, who had limited mobility, was still inside the home, where he resided. The sheriff’s deputies were unable to enter the residence, due to the heavy smoke and fire.

Libertyville Fire Department, along with other fire departments arrived and began firefighting operations. When firefighters entered, Deyo was located inside the residence, deceased.

Lake County Sheriff’s Detectives responded and assisted the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal, and Libertyville Fire Investigators with the investigation into the fire.

Lake County Sheriff’s Detectives spoke with a caretaker of Deyo, who initially called 911 for assistance. The caretaker said she left Deyo’s home a short time earlier and received a call from him, asking her to return to assist him. When she returned to the residence, she was unable to enter, because of the fire and called 911 for assistance.

The Lake County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy on Deyo on Thursday morning.

The official cause of the fire remains under investigation.