The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office is investigating suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of a 53-year-old Colorado man. It started as a report of a grass fire around 3:10am on Tuesday November 23, 2021 east of Kearney near the intersection of Coal Chute Rd and Highway 10. The Kearney Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene and discovered a small grass fire of unknown origin. Later that day ,shortly after 9 AM, a medical unit call to transport a 53 year old man from Crossroad Shelter in Kearney to CHI Good Samaritan for medical treatment of severe burn injuries. The man was ultimately transferred to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lincoln where he died on the early morning of Wednesday November 24, 2021. The Buffalo County Attorney’s Office has ordered an autopsy. The identity of the victim has not been confirmed and no next of kin has been notified, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office says the preliminary investigation indicates foul play may be involved with their investigation focusing on the fire, the burn victim and any other persons.
They’re asking anyone to contact them with information they may have relating to the fire scene.
Deputies were assisted by members of the Kearney Police Department, Kearney Volunteer Fire Department, Buffalo County Attorney’s Office, and Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office. At that time, the identity of the victim has not been confirmed and no next of kin have been notified.
