Accident, homicide or suicide?

A Kane County coroner's jury Wednesday was unable to determine the cause of death for a man found in the passenger's seat of a car inside a burning garage in West Dundee.

Thomas E. Pfeiffer, 64, was found by firefighters about 2a.m. Dec. 21, when they responded to a fire in the detached garage of his house in the 500 block of South Seventh Street.

Although jurors at an inquest agreed with an autopsy result that indicated Pfeiffer died from the heat of the fire, they were unable to rule the death an accident, homicide or suicide.

Firefighters found the two-car garage engulfed in flames, the roof partially collapsed. Pfeiffer was reclining on his side in the passenger's seat, West Dundee fire Lt. Jim Schuldt said.

The car windows had been rolled down and the car's accelerator was pushed forward, but the car was not in gear. Investigators said they believe the engine overheated, caught fire and, subsequently, set the garage on fire, Schuldt said.

West Dundee police detective Christopher Diori said Pfeiffer had a blood-alcohol level of 0.16. He had been out with friends the night before and went home about 9 p.m., when he was last seen alive.