Elderly Couple Killed in Fire at Their East Patchogue Home

EAST PATCHOGUE, NY - An elderly husband and wife were killed when a fire tore through their East Patchogue home Thursday afternoon, police said.

Fifth Precinct Police officers responded to a call of a house fire at 50 Swezey Street at 12:36 p.m. Neighbors observed flames emanating from the home and attempted to enter the residence to rescue the couple but were unsuccessful, police said.

Angeline Romeo, 85, and her husband, Alfred Romeo, 88, were found dead on the first floor of the home.

"My husband tried to get in the back door," neighbor Theresa Martin told ABC 7. "The back door was locked and smoke was just billowing out it was already too late to even get near them."

Eight fire departments–Patchogue, North Patchogue, Bayport, Blue Point, Bellport, Hagerman, Farmingville and Medford–responded to the scene to extinguish the blaze.

The investigation into the fire is continuing, but it does not appear to be criminal in nature, police said.

Photo: ABC 7 report screenshot