Fatal Fire 45 Years Ago May Have Been a Planned Attack

A house fire in Wilmington nearly four decades ago killed six family members. Now, WCVB-TV, is reporting new evidence may show the fire 45 years ago was a planned attack.

The television station is airing a full report on its investigation into the decades old fire Wednesday night at 5 p.m. with new details of the fire and what new information has come to light. WCVB will also be streaming it online.

The Landers family continues to seek answers as they hope to prove the deadly blaze was intentionally set, Wilmington Patch reported back in July.

On September 26, 1969, the family’s Clark Street home caught fire, killing 37-year-old mother Nancy Landers along with five of her children. Davey, 13, Billy, 12, Kevin, 9, Lisa, 7, and K.C., 4, all perished in the fire that began at about 3 a.m. that morning.

The fire was ruled electrical in nature, a common classification during that time period. However, rumors flew around town in the weeks following the tragedy that a local man bragged to friends that he had started the fire. He was rumored to have been brought in for questioning at the time, but no charges resulted.

In another twist to the story, the family lived in a trailer on the property in the months after the fire. David Landers, the father of the family, said that one night he smelled gasoline outside the trailer and went outside to investigate.

Beginning about one year ago, Janis Jaquith, who married David and Nancy’s oldest child Harry, began an investigation of her own. She interviewed many of the involved parties, including firefighters who worked that day and neighbors.

Much of the evidence from the fire is no longer in archives, but among the items Jaquith uncovered is a set of 12 Polaroid photographs from the scene. She said it appears the photographs show two points of ignition, which would likely not be the case if the fire was accidental.

Watch the preview of tonight’s report >>>