Victims in Mansion Fire Died from Smoke, Burns: Report

An Annapolis couple and their grandchildren died of smoke inhalation and burns after the family Christmas tree caught fire, according to autopsy results.

Bruce Goldfarb, spokesman for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, told the Capital-Gazette newspaper that the deaths of residents Don and Sandra Pyle, and their four grandchildren, were accidental.

An electrical problem near a 60-day-old Christmas tree was the source of the Jan. 19 inferno that killed the six family members in the Annapolis mansion, authorities said Jan. 28.

An electrical failure in the home’s great room ignited material in the area, which quickly spread to the 15-foot tall Christmas tree and furnishings. The sleeping area connected to the great room, blocking an exit for the home’s inhabitants, authorities said.

“Christmas trees, when they’re dry, they burn quickly,” said Arundel County Fire Chief Alan Graves .

The Christmas tree was cut more than 60 days ago, Graves said, and the fuel as it burned provided heat and a rapid spread of the blaze. He would not discuss where the bodies were found, if there was evidence that the Pyles tried to put out the fire or reach their grandchildren.

“Our collective hearts break for the tragedy you have to bear,” Graves said to the surviving family members.

Special agent in charge Bill McMullin with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said, “This fire was the result of a tragic accident that happened at the absolute worst time, when the Pyles and their grandkids were sleeping.”

Anne Arundel County Fire Department officials confirmed last week that Donald and Sandra Pyle and their visiting grandchildren died when the $4.2 million mansion in the 900 block of Childs Point Road was destroyed by fire.

Children Perish After Weekend with Grandparents

The Washington Post reports the home is owned by Reston IT exec Donald Pyle and his wife, Sandra Pyle. Donald Pyle is chief operating officer at ScienceLogic, according to the Post, an information technology company that monitors networks for private and government clients.

WBAL TV reports the missing children were identified by a family representative as Alexis Boone, 8; Kaitlyn Boone, 7; Charlotte Boone, 8; and Wesley Boone, 6. The Boone children are the grandchildren of Sandra Pyle and the step-grandchildren of Don Pyle.

The kids had Jan. 19 off from school because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, so they spent Jan. 18 with their grandparents and stayed overnight. The Capital-Gazettereports Sandra Pyle bought costumes the youngsters wore to dinner at Medieval Times at Arundel Mills mall in Hanover. The group then went to the Pyles’ castle, as neighbors had dubbed the 16,000-square-foot house.

Kaitlyn and sister Alexis are the children of Randy and Stacey Boone, who also have a month-old son. The girls’ cousins, Wes and Charlotte, are the children of Clint and Eve Boone, the newspaper says.

Message from Grieving Family

A statement from the Boone and Pyle families thanked emergency workers for their efforts, and the community for its condolences.

“On behalf of the Boone and Pyle families, we wish to express our gratitude and appreciation for the love and support being shared with us during this tragic event. We are blessed that so many family, friends and neighbors have come together for us in our time of need,” the statement said reports WBAL.

“Our love for our family is boundless. Our loss demands time and quiet reflection to process these feelings. We ask that you respect our need for privacy,” the statement says. “Life is fragile. Make time today to embrace your loved ones.”

Intense flames kept firefighters out of the house to search for victims Jan. 19, as floors and ceilings collapsed. The search for victims began Jan. 21 once water was pumped out of the home’s basement and the skeletal structure was stabilized.

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