2 Illinois men found dead in home were homicide victims

ALTON, Ill. (AP) - Two men whose bodies were found in a fire-damaged southern Illinois home were victims of a double-homicide and the fire was not an accident, investigators said.

Firefighters found the bodies of Robert Andrews, 59, and Leonard 'œJames'ť Ebrey, 67, inside their home early Monday in the Madison County village of Godfrey, just north of Alton.

The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis was called in after the state fire marshal determined the fire was not an accident. Deputy Commander Brian Koberna of the Major Case Squad said autopsies had been completed but he declined to discuss how the men died.

Koberna said investigators know that Andrews and Ebrey's deaths were 'œabsolutely not a murder-suicide'ť and that someone else was responsible.

'œWe are actively searching for a person that committed this crime and hope to bring justice to the family as a result of that,'ť he told KTVI-TV on Tuesday.

Andrews' son, Robert Andrews Jr., told the station his father and Ebrey had been married for four years and lived together at the home. He said when his father was married to his mother they had four children of their own, adopted another 12 and cared for about 70 foster kids.

'œHe loved his family through thick and thin. You could do a lot of wrong in his eyes and he would still love you unconditionally, that was very much appreciated in our household,'ť Robert Andrews Jr. said.