Mundelein police not yet sure of deadly fire's origin

Mundelein police are calling this weekend's deadly fire "suspicious," but have not yet determined whether it was arson.

Investigators were still searching Sunday for what started the fire that gutted a home on the 200 block of Prospect Avenue and claimed the life of 12-year-old Jorge Juarez. His mother and sisters also were injured.

Because the fire originated on the home's front porch, Lake County Coroner Richard Keller said investigators are looking into arson as the cause.

However, Mundelein Police Chief Raymond Rose said Sunday that police are hesitating to call it arson, regarding the fire merely as suspicious.

"We're continuing the investigation," Rose said. "Because we are involved in the investigation and because there are still people that need to be talked to, there are things we are not prepared yet to put into a public forum."

Damage to the home is estimated at $150,000, officials said. Keller said there was at least one working smoke detector in the home.

An autopsy of Jorge Juarez revealed that he died of smoke inhalation.

Jorge's mother, 44-year-old Virginia Estrada, remained hospitalized in critical condition at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville Sunday, hospital spokeswoman Chris Vicik said.

The boy's sisters, Adriana Juarez, 16, and Virginia Juarez, 11, also were transported to Condell. Adriana was treated and released, but Virginia was transferred to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood. Hospital personnel were unable to offer any information about Virginia Sunday.

Funeral arrangements for Jorge Juarez are still pending, Keller said.