Woman Found Dead In Burned Novato Home Identified

NOVATO, CA — A woman who was found dead Wednesday night in her burned Novato home has been identified as 84-year-old Ardith Marie Parra, according to the Marin County Sheriff's Office.

Multiple people reported the fire around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday in the single-family home in the 600 block of Cherry Street.

The house "was full from floor to ceiling in most rooms with household items and narrow pathways," Novato Fire Protection District Chief Bill Tyler said.

Due to "debris inside the residence, and the active fire and smoke conditions," the search for occupants inside the home was "laborious and challenging," Marin County Chief Deputy Coroner Roger Fielding said.

Parra was found unconscious and unresponsive inside the house. Life-saving procedures were unsuccessful and she was pronounced dead at 11:14 p.m., Fielding said.

A forensic postmortem examination and toxicology testing has been scheduled for Friday.

"The Marin County Sheriff's Office and personnel of the Coroner Division offer our best wishes and condolences to the family and friends of Ms. Parra," Fielding said.