(Update) Missing Resident Identified, Body Found At Rockville Fire Scene

(Updated at 6:20 p.m.) ROCKVILLE, MD — Authorities have released the name of a 71-year-old Rockville man who has been missing since a fire destroyed his home, and are working to confirm a body found in the burned ruins is that of the homeowner. Detectives have determined that the homeowner, Larry Joseph Pagliai, 71, lived alone in the house and that he cannot be accounted for at this time.

A body was found Friday morning in the ruins of Pagliai's home; he is believed to have been home at the time of Thursday night's fire. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services investigators found the victim about 10 a.m. Friday.

The victim’s body has been taken to Baltimore, where the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine the victim’s identity and the manner and cause of the victim’s death.

About 75 Montgomery County firefighters battled the fire in the 16100 block of Willow Lane in Rockville. The investigation into what started the deadly fire continues and the identification of the victim is pending with assistance from police, said fire department spokesman Pete Piringer.

The fire was reported at 10:15 p.m. March 2. Firefighters arrived to find the house fully engulfed in flames. Piringer said it took firefighters 15 to 20 minutes to knock down the bulk of the fire. He said some brush fires did ignite and were quickly extinguished.

Crews brought heavy equipment to the scene Friday to sift through the debris, and a search dog went through parts of the ruins Friday morning.

The house is a complete loss, Piringer said, but a dollar amount has not yet been determined.

Detectives ask anyone who may have any information about the house fire to contact the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070.

»Photos of Rockville house fire, courtesy of Pete Piringer, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services